ERIC

• [half shy, half assertive]

  • notices his father's unscrupulous and inhumane treatment of others
  • lacks the moral fibre and conviction to act on these feelings as he is 'half shy'
• [not too rudely]... We'll drink to their health"

  • recognizes absurdity of their marriage, recognises she is a bartering token
  • notices dehumanisation and disenfranchisement
  • 'not too rudely' - still disillusioned with capitalism
• "Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices"

  • rhetorical question
  • highlights how Eric is developing his "half assertive" side due to the introduction of socialism
  • directly questions his father and not seeking to hear his ignorant point of view as a response
  • alliteration on "possible prices" - compounds how Eric has realised the exploitation individuals like his father perpetuate in order to acquire more wealth
• "Look for the father of the child. It's his responsibility" - Mrs Birling

  • myopic and egotistical world view the upper class possessed, exempting their own social class from this scrutiny
  • dramatic irony - we know Eric is the father
  • upper class harboured double standards
  • priestley indicts that Eric's actions and abandonment of facing responsibility is a microcosm for the coward nature of capitalism
• "you're not the kind of father a chap can go to when he's in trouble - that's why"

  • failures of parenting and idolising wealth
  • monetary success doesn't equivalate, or is not omnipotent, over love and compassion
  • Priestley highlights futility of capitalism - money earned to impress others will plague your own home
• "then - you killed her. She came to you to protect me - and you turned her away - yes"

  • hyphenated impassioned speech shows how eric has found solicitude for the life loss as a consequence for their ignorance
  • Priestley qualifies Eric for enlightenment as he becomes more outspoken in demanding justice
• -she was pretty and a good sport-

  • reinforces depravity of the mindset of high society
  • sport is an activity for entertainment - Eric saw women as another mere entertainment to fill the empty void of his life with. Alcohol served the same purpose
  • Eric doesn't deviate from the objectifying patriarchal views of society where women are just toys
  • lower class women were dispensable
• "in that state where a chap easily turns nasty"

  • Priestley demonstrates Eric's subconscious attempts to distance himself from his actions - switches from first person to third person
  • refers to himself as "chap" rather than "I" - tries to rid himself of responsibility
  • trivialisation of such violence of a possible rape through colloquial use of "a chap" is an attempt to soften the harshness of his actions