Eric

• "In his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive'


  Act One: This describes Eric's personality
• Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh'


  Act One: This shows Eric's immaturity
• Steady the buffs!'


  Act One: Eric talking about Sheila and Gerald getting married, uses a slang term
• (Takes the decanter and helps himself)'


  Act One: Shows how Eric is used to drinking
• He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out'


  Act One: Talking about Mr. Birling firing Eva, Eric doesn't agree with this decision, begins to show his socialist views and how he isn't afraid to stand up to his father
• Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for highest possible prices'


  Act One: Eric agrees with Eva trying to get a pay rise
• I'd have let her stay'


  Act One: Eric isn't afraid to stand up to his father, and voices his views about his dad firing Eva Smith when she asked for a pay rise
• We don't need to tell the inspector all about that'


  Act One: Eric hasn't yet realised that the inspector already knows everything and still wishes to conceal some information - sounds slightly like Mr. Birling
• drinking too much for the last two years' (Sheila)


  Act Two: This shows how Sheila knows about Eric's drinking problem and has done for a while
• Could I have a drink first?'


  Act Three: Eric clearly has a drinking problem and this is highlighted here
• (familiarity with heavy drinking)'


  Act Three: This compliments the quote from act one about how Eric handles the decanter
• I was a bit squiffy'


  Act Three: Eric is beginning to admit that he gets drunk a lot and does this using slang phrases
• I hate these fat old tarts round the town - the ones I see some of your respectable friends with-'


  Act Three: This shows that Eric has little respect for his father and his father's friends
• You killed her'


  Act Three: Eric is very blunt and wishes for his family to take responsibility for what they have done
• Damn you' 'I don't give a damn'


  Act Three: Eric's language is common of someone his age, however his mother does not always like his choice of words
• I'm ashamed of you as well - yes both of you'


  Act Three: Eric's socialist views come through a lot towards the end as he begins to show his disappointment in his family
• He was our police inspector alright'


  Act Three: Eric does not care that IG may not have been real, he knows that there is a lesson to be taken out of what has happened
• You're beginning to pretend now that nothing's really happened at all'


  Act Three: Eric begins to get angry with his family for trying to forget what they have done
• (Shouting) And I say the girl's dead and we all helped to kill her - and that's what matters-'

  Act Three: Eric is able to take the deeper message from what has happened rather than trying to clear his name all over again
• We all helped to kill her'


  Act Three: Eric has taken responsibility on behalf of the whole family for the fact they helped to kill Eva Smith
• The girl's dead, isn't she?'


  Act Three: Eric is blunt about Eva being dead to try and make his family understand that they have done wrong
• "I was in a state where a chap easily turns nasty- and I threatened to make a row"


  • Act 3, Eric recalling time with Eva
• "And thats when it happened. And I don't even remember- thats the hellish thing"

  Eric
• "I wasn't in love with her or anything- but I liked her- she was pretty and a good sport"


  Act 3