Eric Birling Character Analysis (AQA GCSE English Literature) : Revision Note

Eric represents the recklessness and misogyny of wealthy young men in the early 1900s, but his transformation into a more responsible person suggests that there is hope for the future.

Eric character summary

Why is Eric important?

Eric represents both the punishment that awaits those who refuse to listen to the Inspector’s message, and also the potential for the younger generation to change for the better.

• He has a drinking problem: he is known by his peers (including Gerald) to drink heavily, and while inebriated he can become aggressive; he forced himself upon Eva while he was drunk.

• He has a poor relationship with his father: he appears to be jealous of Mr Birling’s respect for Gerald; he does not confide in his father when Eva becomes pregnant, and instead steals from Mr Birling’s business.

• He is able to accept responsibility: at the denouement, he and Sheila are the only characters to accept their roles in Eva’s death; he is stricken with guilt, and willing to face the consequences of his actions.

Eric language analysis

Priestley uses a range of techniques to present different aspects of Eric’s character:

• Exclamatory language: Eric is prone to sudden exclamations, such as “(involuntarily) My God!” in Act 1 and the stage direction “(bursting out)” in Act 3, both of which highlight his impulsive and immature tendencies

• Dramatic irony: Act 2 ends with the audience realising that Eric, who is offstage, was the father of Eva Smith’s child; we know this because Eric is the only member of the family waiting to be interviewed by the Inspector. Sybil Birling does not realise this, and encourages the Inspector to punish the father of Eva Smith’s child; one by one, the other characters realise that Sybil is falling into the Inspector’s trap — and then, as the truth becomes obvious, Eric enters and the Act ends.

• Confrontational dialogue: Eric’s dialogue with his father is frequently confrontational; in Act 1, he openly disagrees with Mr Birling’s position that workers should not strike for higher wages, while Mr Birling often chides Eric or dismisses his remarks. Another example is Mr Birling’s immediate (and incorrect) dismissal of Eric’s justifiable fears of war: “There isn’t a chance of war”. These interactions indicate a strained father-son relationship; Eric states in Act 3 that Mr Birling is not “the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble”.

Eric Birling key quotes

Eric character development

Eric character interpretation

Eric’s redemption

Eric is guilty of atrocious behaviour: he admits to drunkenly raping Eva Smith, and then stole money to support her in secret rather than being honest about his behaviour. Modern audiences — and even Priestley’s 1945 audience — may struggle to forgive him, but he is redeemed somewhat by guilt and willingness to accept the consequences of his actions. He therefore embodies Priestley’s message of redemption, demonstrating that even the most irresponsible of individuals are capable of becoming positive forces for change in society.

Capitalism versus socialism

Eric is a vital part of Priestley’s attack on the hypocrisy of 1912 and 1945 society. He openly condemns Mr Birling’s capitalist principles, and reveals socialist tendencies by arguing that Eva and her fellow workers were right to strike for higher wages. He points out that Mr Birling himself praised Eva’s work, and factory owners like him are always seeking to charge higher prices. In Act 3, he “bitterly” mocks his father for not telling the Inspector that it must be “every man for himself”, highlighting the absence of conviction among powerful men, who behave in whatever way is most convenient.