Eric

• ”it happened” “and I didn’t even remember“

  • Eric tries to subvert responsibility away from himself by referring to sexually assaulting Eva as ‘it’
  • He trivialises it which could also show that this behaviour was normal from men at that time.
  • this is reinforced as it was insignificant to him that he didn’t even “Remeber it”
• “I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty”

  • “Thats“- determiner, suggests that everyone is meant to know what “that” state is when a “chap” turns “nasty”
  • “chap” is a colloquial term and it distances himself from the crime, he trivialising the matter and severity of the crime by referring to himself in a child like manner- his parent treating him like this- “he’s only a boy”
  • “nasty” euphemism for sexual assault further diminishing the severity of the crime
• “I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty”

  • John lockes theory
  • attack on the patriarchal society as all men were like this
• “Half shy, half assertive”


  He can easily be moulded into socialism by the inspector as he is the younger generation

  -the younger generation is hope for a future socially society
• “It’s a hellish thing”

  • He may be accepting responsibility for his actions towards Eva
  • “hellish” conveys the idea of hell, Eric realises that his actions will eventually lead to eternal damnation - conveys priestly’s Christian message.
  • priestly is saying that exploiting women will lead to hell
  • he refers to his actions as “thing” which suggests that Eric will never truly understand the severity of his actions
• (almost threatening her)

  • He verbally abuses his mother showing his lack of respect for women
  • Even though he has learnt the inspectors socialist message he will never learn the importance of gender equality because the notion of the inferiority of women is indoctrinated into his mind
  • this was the status quo for men to be above women.
• “Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages” “we try for the highest possible prices”

  • Foreshadows that he may change to socialism
• “She was pretty and a good sport”


  “Sport”- a game to him, doesn’t take it seriously

  objectifies her, normalises this behaviour