2440686
Description
Mind Map by shonarstart, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by shonarstart
over 9 years ago
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Eric Birling
- He is described at the start as "in his early
twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half
assertive."
- Eric seems embarrassed and
awkward from the start. The fist
mention of him in the script is "Eric
suddenly guffaws," and then he is
unable to explain his laughter, as if
he is nervous about something.
- It soon becomes clear to us (although it takes his
parents longer) that he is a hardened drinker. Gerald
admits, "I have gathered that he does drink pretty
hard."
- When he hears how his father sacked Eva
Smith, he supports the worker's cause, like
Sheila. "Why shouldn't they try for higher
wages?"
- Feels guilt and frustration with himself
over his relationship with the girl. He cries,
"Oh - my God! - how stupid it all is!" as he
tells his story. He is horrified that his
thoughtless actions had such
consequences.
- He had some innate sense of responsibility,
because although he got a woman pregnant, he
was concerned enough to give her money. He was
obviously less worried about stealing (or
'borrowing' from his father's office) than he was
about the girl's future.
- He is appalled by his parents' inability to admit their
own responsibility. He tells them forcefully, "I'm
ashamed of you." When Birling tries to threaten him in
Act III, Eric is aggressive in return: "I don't give a damn
now."
- At the end of the play, like Sheila, he is
fully aware of his social responsibility. He is
not interested in his parents' efforts to
cover everything up: as far as he is
concerned, the important thing is that a
girl is dead. "We did her in all right."
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