Eric

• Who is Eric Burling in An Inspector Calls?

  An alcoholic, rapist, and thief
• What does Eric show willingness to change by the end of the play?

  He shows willingness to accept social responsibility
• How is Eric portrayed in Act One of the play?

  As an outsider at the family dinner
• What does the term "squiffy" mean as used by Sheila?

  It means tipsy
• How does Mr. Burling treat Eric compared to Gerald Croft?

  He dismisses Eric but praises Gerald
• What does Eric's drinking symbolize in the play?

  His coping mechanism for personal struggles
• What crime does Eric commit in the play?

  He rapes Eva Smith
• How does Eric react to Eva Smith's death?

  He shows genuine upset and empathy
• What does Eric's reaction to the inspector reveal about him?

  He has some morals and empathy
• How does Eric's behavior contrast with Mr. Burling's attitude?

  Eric shows empathy while Mr. Burling dismisses it
• What does Eric's statement about his crime indicate about his maturity?

  He lacks maturity and responsibility
• How does Eric's drinking affect his relationship with his parents?

  It causes him to act out and argue
• What does Eric blame for his actions?

  His lack of impulse control
• How does Eric's character development compare to Sheila's?

  Sheila takes responsibility, Eric deflects blame
• What does Eric's final statement about responsibility imply?

  He acknowledges his actions but lacks sincerity
• Why does Eric not receive a satisfying redemption in the end?

  His transformation is not fully convincing
• What societal context influences Eric's character in the play?

  Pre-World War I attitudes towards men
• What message does Priestley convey through Eric's character?

  He critiques the irresponsibility of privileged youth
• Who does Priestley place confidence in for societal change?

  Young women like Sheila
• What does Eric's drinking reveal about his character?

  His repressed anger and immaturity
• How does Eric's character reflect the theme of social responsibility?

  He struggles with accepting his role in society
• What does Eric's relationship with his parents signify?

  It highlights the lack of support and guidance
• What does Eric's final confrontation with his mother reveal?

  His deep-seated resentment and immaturity
• How does the audience's perception of Eric change throughout the play?

  They may sympathize with him despite his flaws
• What does Eric's character ultimately symbolize in the play?

  The struggle for redemption and responsibility
• What is the significance of Eric's drinking at the end of the play?

  It undermines his claims of change
• How does Eric's character contrast with the societal expectations of men in his time?

  He struggles against traditional masculinity
• What role does Eric play in the theme of hypocrisy in the play?

  His actions expose the family's hypocrisy
• What does Eric's inability to remember his crime suggest about his character?

  It indicates his immaturity and denial
• How does Eric's character development compare to the societal changes of the time?

  He fails to adapt to changing values
• What does Priestley suggest about the future through Eric's character?

  That privileged youth must change for progress
• How does Eric's relationship with Sheila evolve throughout the play?

  They unite against their parents' hypocrisy
• What does Eric's final statement about his actions imply about his growth?

  He acknowledges wrongdoing but lacks depth
• How does Eric's character reflect the generational divide in the play?

  He represents the younger generation's potential for change
• What does Eric's character ultimately reveal about societal expectations of men?

  They often suppress emotions and responsibility
• How does Eric's character serve as a critique of capitalism?

  His actions highlight the moral failures of the wealthy
• What does Eric's struggle with alcohol represent in the context of the play?

  His inability to cope with societal pressures
• How does Eric's character challenge traditional notions of masculinity?

  He shows vulnerability and emotional struggle
• What does Eric's final confrontation with his mother reveal about their relationship?

  It is strained and filled with resentment
• How does Eric's character reflect the consequences of privilege?

  His actions stem from a lack of accountability