eric birling

• How does Priestley present Eric at the beginning of the play?

  As not fully mature
• What do the adjectives ‘shy’ and ‘assertive’ imply about Eric?

  They create a sense of confusion
• What does Priestley want the audience to feel about Eric?

  To view him negatively
• What societal view does Eric represent according to Priestley?

  Capitalist patriarchal society
• What does the repetition of the word ‘half’ suggest about Eric?

  His character is not fully formed
• What slang term does Sheila use to describe Eric's state?

  Squiffy
• What does Sheila's informal language indicate about the Birling siblings?

  They are fashionable and adapt to times
• How does Priestley align Eric with alcohol?

  To foreshadow his later behavior
• What does Eric admit about his state when he met Eva Smith?

  He was in a state that turns nasty
• What does Eric's use of the word ‘that’ imply during his interrogation?

  He appeals to shared experiences of drunkenness
• How does Eric refer to himself during the interrogation?

  In the third person as ‘a chap’
• What connotation does the word ‘chap’ have in Eric's context?

  Positive connotations of friendliness
• What does Priestley suggest about Eric's responsibility for his actions?

  He uses alcohol as an excuse
• What does Priestley imply about Eva's situation?

  She lived on the brink of prostitution
• Why would the word ‘prostitute’ not be used in the play?

  Due to censorship of the time
• What play did George Bernard Shaw write that relates to the theme of prostitution?

  Mrs Warren’s Profession
• What does Eric's admission of guilt reveal about his character?

  He is distressed and takes responsibility
• What does the phrase ‘And that’s when it happened’ imply?

  It implies a serious incident occurred
• How does Eric describe his relationship with his father?

  As not supportive when in trouble
• What does Eric's short-term solution to help Eva indicate about him?

  He lacks foresight and maturity
• What lesson does Eric learn by the end of the play?

  About collective social responsibility
• What does Eric's use of the plural pronoun ‘we’ signify?

  Collective responsibility for Eva's death
• What does Eric state is important regarding Eva's situation?

  What happened to her and their actions
• How does Eric's language reflect the inspector's message?

  It echoes the inspector's socialist views
• What are the key aspects of Eric's character development throughout the play?

  • Initially presented as immature and irresponsible
  • Associated with alcohol and negative behavior
  • Learns about collective social responsibility
  • Accepts his role in Eva's downfall
  • Matures by the end of the play
• What does Priestley ultimately portray Eric as by the end of the play?

  A receptive character to social responsibility
• What does Priestley suggest about the impact of societal values on Eric?

  They contribute to his immaturity and irresponsibility
• How does Priestley use Eric's character to convey his message?

  As a critique of capitalist society