Eric

Question 1

Oedipus Complex

‘‘why s—– t— t– f– h—- w—-?’’

Answer 1

'’why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?’’
At the very start of the play, Eric draws upon conventions of the Oedipus Complex. Oedipal characteristics of challenging his father - this foreshadows Eric becoming a socialist and represents the clash of the classes and the two generations

Question 2

Morality Play

g——- and l—-

Answer 2

Despite becoming a socialist at the end, he has still committed rape against Eva Smith. AIC is a morality play, Eric portrays the two sins of Gluttony and Lust.

Question 3

Objectification of Women

‘’s– w— a —- —-‘’

Answer 3

'’she was a good sport’’
The noun ‘‘sport’’ dehumanises Eva and shows hoe Eric used her to pass time and enjoy himself. Priestley extends the rape as a metaphor for how the upper classes abuse the working class

Question 4

Blame

‘‘and y– t—- h– a—- - y– — — —— —’’

Answer 4

'’and you turned her away - yes and you killed her’’

This polysyndetic list emphasises the blame on Mrs Birling and the extent of the overall treatment of Eva

Question 5

Exposition

‘h— —, h—- a——’’

Answer 5

'’half shy, half assertive’’
The two adjectives contrast anxiety with power. Literally, Eric is shy and assertive. Metaphorically, he is anxious about the plight of the poor but is still powerful with women. Symbolically, Priestley implies the struggle of Eric’s want to be a socialist and the pressure of being capitalist.

Question 6

Oedpius Complex - Mark II

‘‘I– —- let h– —-‘’

Answer 6

''I'd have let her stay''
Priestley's voice is echoed here as he believes in social equality, also the pronoun 'her' generalizes his beliefs to all working class citizens

Question 7

Gluttony - Drinking Problems

‘‘sq—–’’

Answer 7

Stage Directions - ‘‘squiffy’’
His greed for alcohol links to his greed for women to fulfill his sexual desires and even further a symbol of capitalist exploitation and the compromising of socialist views