eric birling

• but afterwards she told me that she didn't want me to go in
• Eric was in a state

  "A chap easily turns nasty"
• Eric threatened to make a row


  As an excuse to get drunk and rape
• Eric takes advantage of how desperate she is and uses patriarchal society to exploit her, no one would listen to a woman
• Eric


  • Not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive
• Eric is unsure of his position


  The word "sure" indicates uncertainty
• Eric feels he should be married and that he is being left behind, referring to prostitutes as "fat old tarts" shows he is not sympathetic to desperate women
• Eric does not feel his father meets the expectations of what a 'good' father should be, perhaps because Birling is too preoccupied with making money
• Eric insisted on giving Eva enough money to keep her going, until she refused to take any more
• Eric steals from the rich to give to the poor

  But was this a moral action?
• The fact that Eva refuses to take the money once she knows where it comes from suggests she knows it is wrong
• Eric breaks down in his speech


  This shows his emotional distress
• Eric completely blames his mother for Eva's death, the repetition of "you killed her" emphasises the blame he places on her
• Eric believes in workers' rights and is ashamed of his parents because they won't accept responsibility
• Eric takes over Inspector Goole's role as the moral voice of the play, reminding everyone of what they have done