Eric

Eric

1. DRAMATIC CONFLICTS

   • E's INTERNAL CONFLICT
     • guilt, anger at mum, regret
   • Mr B views G as adult & Eric as child
     • G = obsequious & sycophantic
   • EXTERNAL CONFLICT
     • class system, patriarchal ideology, poverty

2. KEY CHARACTERISTICS

   • younger generation
   • develops as character, learns & accepts responsibility,
     • part of realism in litterature
   • the product of poor parenting, (son whose mother knows nothing about him, Mrs B last one to work out it his child, Priestly conveying message on parenting),
   • P epitomises this type of privileged young man
   • treats E as object, takes what he desires without consent, views her as worthless
     • as man form patriarchal society, P condemning "chaps" like that, with the "chaps" at the Palace Bar, P condemning this group society
       • condemnation of how society perceives unchaste women as worthless
     • feels he is entitled = rapes her
   • lacks maturity during exposition of play gains it towards end

3. Relationship with Sheila

   • (rather noisily) All the best! She's got a nasty temper sometimes - but she's not bad really. Good old Sheila
     • noisy = adverb, boisterous at beginning, immaturity OR attempt to garner attention
     • playful / youhtful --> lacks seriousness of G / Mr B

4. Relationship with Parents

   • Mr Birling
     • Yes - Know - but still -"
       • tentivivaley disagreeing with father, contrast to end of play
         • B can't bear to be contradicted
       • Broken Syntax
       • He is dismissed by his father at this point --> challenge
         • contrast to G
     • "It's about time you learnt to face a few responsibilities. That's something this public school-and-Varsity life doesn't seem to teach you"
       • IRONIC
         • speaks to overarching theme of play, his father never does face responsibility, Mr B denies responsibility for welfare of his reputation & facade
       • Mr B resents fact his son had easier childhood than him
     • "Because you're not the kind of father a chap could go to when he's in trouble, thats why."
       • audience = sympathy for Eric here
         • E = product of capitalist, so he refuses to be like his father, littery foil
       • B = awful parent, focus on profit not family
         • may be reason why Eric changes & therefore refuses to grow up to be like his parents
   • Mrs Birling
     • "I blame the young man who was the father" ... "if, as she said he didn't belong to her class, & was some drunken young idler, then that's all the more reason why he shouldn't escape
       • here audience gets dawning realisation Mrs B is critisising & condemning own son = DRAMTIC IRONY
     • "There must be some mistake"
       • It is possible to suggest that E is a product of his upbringing, his mother knows very little about her son / she is uninterestedd, cold parent
     • "(nearly at breaking point): The - you killed her. She came to you to protect me - and you turned her away ... your own grandchild - you killed them both - dam you
       • emotive lang, challenges & questions his mothers' actions and hold her responsible
       • stage direction, P wanted audience to see visual emotional repocussions of Mrs B's actions - didatic, note moral mesage here

5. Relationship with Eva

   • '(eagerly): Yes, I remember - (but he checks himself'
     • foreshadows his involvement
     • he seems to almost mention Eva -> foreshadowing
   • '(involuntarily) My God!'
     • Genuine shock / moved, responds emotively to Insp's account of E's death
       • his reaction contrasts significantly to his father -> contrast
   • Eric does try to provide for Eva & child but he does so through theft. Priestley seeks to offer a glimpse beneath the facade of respectability & to show the corruption of the wealthy & privileged
   • "He needs a drink now just to see him through"
     • Insp appears to have great deal of understanding of character
     • Ad respesentative of younger 'impressionable' generation,
     • E = emotionally affected by the circumstances of Eva's death
   • "Yes. And that's when it happened. And I didn't even remember - that's the hellish thing. Oh - my God! - how stupid it all is!"
     • perceives her of no value / woth
       • society's perception of women chastising them
       • views her as commodity rather than human being
         • could be argued, he perceives it his right to take her when he so desires
   • "until she refused to take any more -"
     • eva demonstarates greater moral integrity than Eric, she refuses to accept stolen money or marry a ma she does not love
       • Eva has strenght of character
       • Arugably Eric is doing it to help her here, means wel, shows good ententions and regret at last here

6. Representitive of Generation

   • "Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the hits possible prices
     • hypocrisy
     • views / ideology differs form his fathers
       • E = demonstrates capacity to see things form a different perspective
     • E from outset left leaning / more liberal
     • challenges his father's conduct & views more towards the end
   • "I'm sorry - but you see - we were having a little party - & I've had a few drinks, including rather a lot of champagne
     • Erics behaviour & drinking = alows Priestley to comment on the life of dissipation Eric leads & to satires the behaves of such privileged young men like hime
     • evident he is struggling with his emotions, inner conflict,
     • "champagne" = drinks to excess, symbol of privilege, wealth & status
   • "(miserably): Could I have a drink first/'
     • stage direction = adverb
     • E =emotionaly effected, we are able to sympathise with E at this point
   • "In the Palace bar/ I'd been there an hour or so with two or three chaps. I was a bit squiffy"
     • "squiffy" = euphemism, makes his behaviour appear harmless--> appears to be a regular
       • Priestley's comment on sexual double standards
     • E's lang demarcates him as a younger man, he lives a life without burden of responsibility
     • "three chaps" -> indicates thsi type of behaviour is not unocmmon
   • "(laughing): Oh - for God's sake! What does it matter now whether they give you a knighthood or not?"
     • rep of younger generation, learns what is imortant & what is not, devlops & changes during course of play -> accepts responsibility, littery foil to Mr & Mrs B