Eric Analysis

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Roles of Eric

Eric's parents treat him like a child. His drinking problem is unveiled during the course of the play.

Role in the family

Eric is Mr and Mrs Birling's son.
In the play, Mr Birling often dismisses him.
Eric is treated like a child throughout the play – his parents do not pay attention to him or take him seriously.
Eric has a bad drinking problem, which his parents do not know about.

Role in the play

Mr Birling often dismisses his own son in favour of Gerald. This shows that Mr Birling is obsessed with his reputation and social status. He is prepared to ignore his own son to get ahead.
The Birlings also show their selfish attitudes by knowing so little about their son. They do not realise he has a drinking problem.

Connection to Eva

Eric met Eva in a bar when he was drunk and effectively forced his way into her lodgings (where she lives).
He forced her to sleep with him.
They kept up a sexual relationship for a while before Eva found out she was pregnant.
Eric gave her stolen money – when she found out it was stolen, she refused to see him anymore.

Character Development of Eric

Eric begins the play as an awkward and secretive character. But as the play goes on, he shows remorse, becomes stronger and encourages other characters to change their ways.

Beginning - awkward and secretive

Eric first makes an appearance in the play when he laughs to himself.
He is presented as an awkward, secretive character.
The tension between him and his father is obvious.

Tense relationship with Mr Birling

Throughout the play Mr Birling generally ignores Eric and talks to Gerald (until he reveals his relationship with Eva) – he admires the upper-class Gerald Croft, but seems to dislike his own son.
Eric also shows immediate support for the workers of the factory – he questions why Mr Birling refused to pay them fairly. This angers Mr Birling, who has no respect for his son or his son’s business sense.

Shows remorse

Like Sheila, Eric shows a lot of remorse (regret) over his involvement in Eva Smith’s death.
He felt responsible for Eva (he gave her money to support her and the baby) and now hates that he was so thoughtless and selfish in pursuing a sexual relationship with her.

Becomes stronger

Eric becomes stronger as the play progresses.
- Eric stands up to both his mother and father – he openly accuses his mother of murdering her grandchild, and tells his father that he doesn’t give a damn what he thinks of him.

Learns from the experience

By the end of the play, Eric also wants Mr and Mrs Birling to acknowledge their horrible actions, which caused a girl’s death.
Like Sheila, he has learnt from the experience and wants to become a better person.

Significance of Eric

At the beginning of the play, Eric represents the abusive upper class. But as the play goes on, he learns from his actions and represents hope for future generations.

Abusive upper class

Priestley uses Eric to show how upper-class people abused their power in a corrupt society.
- He forced himself on Eva. He knew that she would give in to him because he had the power to make life more difficult for her because of his status.

Hope of future generations

But Eric does recognise the error of his ways and accepts that his actions were inexcusable and wrong.
Like Sheila, Eric represents the hope of future generations, who could learn from their mistakes and use their new-found socialist beliefs to improve the wider society.

1Plot Summary

1.1Act 1

1.1.1Act 1 Summary

1.1.2Act 1 Key Quotes

1.2Act 2

1.2.1Act 2 Summary

1.2.2Act 2 Key Quotes

1.3Act 3

1.3.1Act 3 Summary

1.3.2Act 3 Key Quotes

1.3.3Act 3 More Key Quotes

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Acts 1, 2 & 3

2Context & Key Themes

2.1Context & Key Themes

2.1.1Social Class & Equality

2.1.2Class Tension

2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption

2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism

2.1.5Blame & Responsibility

2.1.6Attitudes to Women

2.1.7Characterisation of Women

2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters

2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 2

2.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes

3Key Characters

3.1Mr Birling

3.1.1Mr Birling Analysis

3.1.2Mr Birling Quotes

3.2Mrs Birling

3.2.1Mrs Birling Analysis

3.2.2Mrs Birling Quotes

3.2.3Exam-Style Questions - Mrs Birling

3.3Sheila

3.3.1Sheila Analysis

3.3.2Sheila Quotes

3.3.3End of Topic Test - The Birlings & Sheila

3.4Eric

3.4.1Eric Analysis

3.4.2Eric Quotes

3.5Gerald

3.5.1Gerald Analysis

3.5.2Gerald Quotes

3.6Inspector Goole

3.6.1Inspector Goole Analysis

3.6.2Inspector Goole Quotes

3.6.3End of Topic Test - Eric, Gerald & Inspector Goole

3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.7.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

4Authorial Method

4.1Arrangement & Structure of the Play

4.1.1Setting, Lighting & Dramatic Irony

4.1.2Structure & Chronology

4.1.3Structure & Chronology 2

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Authorial Method

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