What does Eric Birling represent?
He makes his views clear in the early speeches in Act 1, and these do not change. Priestley uses Mr Birling as a symbol to represent the selfishness and arrogance of capitalists in Edwardian society.
How important is the character of Eric in demonstrating Priestleys ideas?
Hover for more information. Eric represents the younger generation of a social class that is self-indulgent and spoiled. In this sense, he becomes an almost willing victim of its uncaring and supercilious attitude. He is raised in this society and the natural consequence is that he adopts its values.
How does Arthur Birling describe himself?
Arthur Birling describes himself as ‘a hard-headed, practical man of business’….
Why does Eric drink so much?
In many ways, Eric is a disappointment to his parents and the opposite of Gerald Croft. He is described as ‘in his mid-twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive’; it is as if he has something to hide. He has low self esteem and low self confidence which may have led him to drink heavily.
Why does Priestley use common names?
It is one of the earliest jobs where specialist skills were required, therefore that Priestley has chosen a name synonymous with a working class occupation is no doubt unsurprising….
How does Priestley present Gerald Croft?
How does Priestley present the character of Gerald Croft? The fiancé of Sheila Birling. Gerald is presented as somewhat of a sympathetic character when it is revealed he was discreet in the affair, did not impregnate her and started the relationship out of a genuine desire to help her.
What is Eric and Eva’s baby symbolic of?
Eva and Eric’s baby could be symbolic of a bridge between the upper and lower classes. It has the power to bring them two classes together and yet Mrs Birling destroys the baby because she is only interested in self preservation.
Are Birlings upper or middle class?
In the beginning, Priestley describes the Birlings’ house as ‘a fairly large suburban house’ with ‘good solid furniture of the period’, showing they are upper-middle class and that they have money. They also have servants such as a maid and a cook.
What class are the Birlings?
Middle Class
How does Eric change throughout the play?
Eric has changed through the Inspector’s visit and now understands the society around him; the audience can see him shifting through his cry to God – a symbol of his utter regret and remorse. The audience can feel his presence on stage and the didactic lesson of social responsibility resonates with them….
Why did Eric steal money?
It turns out that Eric had an affair with Eva Smith and that she was pregnant with Eric’s baby when she committed suicide. Eric stole money from his father’s business to help Eva. In the final act Eric makes an emotional attack on his parents and their values and shows that he can be assertive.
Why is Eric Birling important?
Eric Birling’s character is extremely important in the outworking of the play. First, he is introduced as an inebriated character, who cannot control himself. He questions his father’s theories about future events which shows him to be a logical and reasonable character.
What role did Priestley perform during the Second World War?
Second World War, An Inspector Calls and later life During the Second World War Priestley was a regular and influential broadcaster on the BBC. His Postscripts began in June 1940 in the aftermath of the Dunkirk evacuation, and continued throughout that year.
Which character is most to blame for Eva Smith’s death?
Mrs Birling
What is the importance of Eric in An Inspector Calls?
J B Priestley uses Eric as he does Sheila – to suggest that the young people of a post-war Britain would be the answer to a hopeful future. With Eric he also addresses some concerns he had about the dangers of immoral behaviour.
Which character says I suppose we’re all nice people now?
SHEILA
How is Eric Birling selfish?
With a lack of lawful minimum wage, Birling can set whatever wages he wants. But his selfishness in reaping the rewards for himself leads him to pursue a business policy of ‘lower costs’. Their wealth is immediately obvious to the audience and this makes is more shocking that Birling would not raise the worker’s wages.
How does JB Priestley explore the idea of class?
In An Inspector Calls, Priestley explores the theme of class through the treatment of working-class Eva Smith by the wealthy Birlings and Gerald Croft when she is in the following situations: when she is a factory worker. when she works in a shop. when she is effectively homeless.