Eric

• What quote shows the theme of responsibility & guilt for Eric?

  "I did what I did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her" (A3)
• 1. What is the Eric quote that starts "I did what I..." and what is the analysis?

  • "I did what I did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her" (A3)
  • Personal pronoun "I" -> Eric's growing sense of personal accountability & social awareness, also maturation of introspection -> quest for redemption from his capitalist sins -> transitioning from half shy demeanour in Act 1, compelling his family to confront their own moral feelings & take ownership of their unethical behaviour
• 2. What is the Eric quote that starts "I did what I..." & what is the analysis?

  • "I did what I did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her" (A3)
  • Parallelism (repetition of "did what" in each part of the sentence) -> interconnected nature of everyone's responsibility, ambiguous quality as no details on what they specifically "did" -> they are microcosms of the upper-middle class, they "did what" they pleased to the lower classes w/out remorse or accountability -> negligence & exploitation are burdens they must collectively accept
• What quote shows the theme of social class & gender for Eric?

  "She was pretty and a good sport" (A3)
• 1. What is the Eric quote that starts "She was..." & what is the analysis?

  • "She was pretty and a good sport" (A3)
  • Connotations of "sport" -> connotations of games & amusement , shedding light on Eric's perception of his relationship with Eva as a form of selfish entertainment -> exposes callousness (cruel) with which he exploited & objectified her, reducing her to a mere source of gratification -> Eric's callous alcohol fueled relationship with Eva is a microcosm of the toxic dynamics perpetuated by unchecked privilege & substance abuse within Edwardian society
• 2. What is the Eric quote that starts "She was..." & what is the analysis?

  • "She was pretty and a good sport" (A3)
  • Syntax (word-order) of "pretty" -> her physical attributes precede her character, reflects his shallow perception, reducing Eva to an object of desire rather than her intrinsic worth as a human being -> even in her death, Eric still possesses power over her through reducing her to her superficial appearance, focusing first on her physical "pretty"(ness) -> Eva emblematic of the disposable treatment of women in early 20th century by the heartless upper echelons of society
• What quote shows the theme of older vs younger & capitalism vs socialism for Eric?

  "Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices" (A1)
• 1. What is the Eric quote that starts "Why shouldn't they.." and what is the analysis?

  • "Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices" (A1)
  • Rhetorical question -> questioning ethics behind his avarice (greed) father's exploitative attitude towards business & relationship w/ lower classes -> turning point as audience see him deviate from half shy to assertive foreshadowed at beginning -> presents emergence of socialist ideals within Eric's consciousness that dismantles his prior obliviousness to the suffering inflicted upon others by capitalism
• 2. What is the Eric quote that starts "Why shouldn't they.." and what is the analysis?

  • "Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices" (A1)
  • Alliteration "possible prices" -> emphasis on outdated & unjust social systems created & upheld by older generation members like his parents -> him exposing & questioning systemic biases that favour wealth of upper-class capitalists, leveraging a laissez-faire (minimal intervention) governmental stance -> helps him to realise this enables figures e.g. his father to exploit working-class for personal monetary gain
• What quote shows the theme of responsibility, olders vs youngers & guilt for Eric?

  "But don't forget I'm ashamed of you as well - yes both of you" (A3)
• 1. What is the Eric quote that starts "But don't forget I'm..." and what is the analysis?

  • "But don't forget I'm ashamed of you as well - yes both of you" (A3)
  • Connotations of "ashamed" -> connotations of embarrassment revealing Eric's deep disillusionment stemming from realisation of capitalists' inherent exploitation of individuals & prioritisation of self-interest -> Eric (younger generation) faces ridicule for progressive, adopts condescending attitude toward parents -> fearlessness in challenging their regressive beliefs & highlighting his committment to catalysing change
• 2. What is the Eric quote that starts "But don't forget I'm..." and what is the analysis?

  • "But don't forget I'm ashamed of you as well - yes both of you" (A3)
  • Hyphen in "- yes both of you" -> simplifies sentence, akin to the Inspector's concise speech, Eric simplifying to obdurate (stubborn) parents (older generation) importance of collective social responsbility -> growing power post-liberation from capitalism's constraints -> A1, Inspector's brevity (concise use of words) denotes authority, echoed by Eric as he speaks concisely to showcase his newfound power rooted in moral conviction