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  • Essay / The character of Eric Birling in The Inspector Calls by Jb Priestley

    Eric is a character from the book “The Inspector Calls” presented by JB Priestley. Eric is Mr Birling's son and Sheila's brother. He is described as being "half shy", which suggests that he lacks self-confidence as he feels it does not fit in with the family as he is the youngest, therefore the least important. His serious drinking habits were common knowledge. Except that his mother thinks he is innocent and treats him like a child who has not yet grown up, it is because he is immature and young compared to the rest of the family who are older and mature, that l Isolates and feels out of place. He is also described as being "semi-assertive", showing that he can express his opinions when he feels passionate about a topic. His spoiled life made him immature because he was wrapped in cotton, far from harsh society. Eric also has the distinction of being confused about his future, nervous about mistreating the poor, and uncomfortable with the notion of capitalism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an original essayAt the beginning of the play, Eric is very uncertain about himself, he worries about his future, he tries to speak for himself, but he was generally oppressed by his father and unable to do what he wanted to do. Subsequently, his behavior is awkward. From 'I don't know - really. Suddenly I felt like I should just laugh. This line describes Eric as being "half shy, half assertive" and this comes across in his dialogue, he cannot explain his sudden laughter. The first time we hear Eric is when he "laughs", which is a crude laugh that suggests he feels uncomfortable around the family, which creates a tense atmosphere. Which creates tension, and an unease which suggests the arrival of the inspector, because we know that he has imposed himself on Eva Smith, and that he has the capacity to change. It seems like he has a bit of a drinking problem at the beginning of the play. He becomes nervous and acts a bit strange and uncomfortable, his drinking problem represents the sin of gluttony, it is the symbol of capitalist exploitation, his greed has created distress for Eva. His drinking also helps him deal with his compromise between socialist views and conservative views. “When a guy becomes mean easily,” the adverb “easily” has troubling connotations here. The action of “rape” is an extended metaphor showing how capitalism abuses the poor and working classes. The language used also frightens the public "when a guy gets mean easily", the adverb "easily" implies that this type of behavior is almost common, so one wonders if the Conservation Party and its ideas too are being used in such a way. perhaps trivial. , to the detriment of the lower classes. When he was found to be pregnant by Eva Smith, he had an innate sense of responsibility. However, Eric Birling was shown to be immature and childish when Sheila revealed to Mrs Birling that Eric was an alcoholic and the father of Eva Smith's baby, he responded by accusing her of betrayal: "You told her. Why are you such a sneaky little guy! » His youthful nature can be identified by his instant reaction to insult Sheila, calling her "sneaky"! The use of the exclamation point in his speech reveals his helplessness and true helplessness. The pronoun “you” highlights his need to look for others to be responsible because he cannot deal with disrespect and betrayal. Eric represented the clash between socialist and capitalist views, his difficult relationship with Mr Birling reflects his Oedipal need for boys to challenge.