Eric Birling

Question 1

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 2 - ABOUT HIM)
‘Go and look…

Answer 1

…for the father. It’s his responsibility’

Question 2

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 3)
‘I was in that…

Answer 2

…state when a chap easily turns nasty’

Question 3

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 2 - ABOUT HIM)
‘She said the father…

Answer 3

…was only a youngster- silly and drinking too much’

Question 4

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 3)
‘You killed her-…

Answer 4

…and the child she’d have had too- my child!’

Question 5

FINISH THE QUOTE (STAGE DIRECTIONS - START)
‘half…

Answer 5

…shy, half assertive’

Question 6

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 1)
‘Why shouldn’t we…

Answer 6

…try for higher wages?’

Question 7

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 3)
‘You’re not the kind…

Answer 7

…of father a chap can go to when he’s in trouble’

Question 8

FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 1)
‘What…

Answer 8

…about war?’

Question 9

ACT 1: ‘What about war?’

Answer 9

• Eric’s questioning tone shows he’s sceptical of Mr Birling’s confident claims about peace — undermines Birling’s authority.
• Challenges older generation’s certainty; hints at his growing independence of thought.
• Reflects Priestley’s criticism of blind optimism & capitalism through dramatic irony (audience knows war does happen).
• Suggests Eric is more socially aware than the older characters; early sign of a conscience & a capacity for change, unlike his parents.

Question 10

Stage direction/ACT 1: ‘half shy, half assertive’

Answer 10

• Stage direction introduces Eric as socially awkward yet with unspoken confidence — a conflicted, layered character.
• The contrast in adjectives hints at his immaturity & inner turmoil — he’s not fully comfortable in his role yet.
• Reflects his struggle with identity & the pressure of upper-class expectations.
• Priestley presents him as unsteady but redeemable, preparing the audience for his later development.
• Begins to suggest his difference from the older generation; he’s not as fixed/self-assured.

Question 11

ACT 1: ‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?’

Answer 11

• Eric challenges his father’s capitalist view; his defensive tone shows early signs of empathy for the working class.
• Stands up for workers’ rights, questioning unfair power structures & social class inequality.
• Shows his moral instincts clashing with his upbringing, foreshadowing his later guilt & growth.
• Priestley uses Eric here to represent the younger generation’s potential for change & concern for social justice.

Question 12

ACT 2: ‘Go and look for the father. It’s his responsibility.’

Answer 12

• Ironic; audience likely realises before the characters that Eric is the father, building tension & dramatic irony.
• Highlights Mrs Birling’s hypocrisy & failure to recognise her own son’s flaws, reinforcing the generational divide.
• Emphasises Eric’s lack of responsibility at this point — he hasn’t yet owned up, showing his immaturity.
• Priestley sets up a moral contrast: Mrs Birling deflects blame while Eric, later, learns to accept it — pointing to the possibility of redemption in the younger generation.

Question 13

ACT 2: ‘She said the father was only a youngster- silly and drinking too much’

Answer 13

• Portrays Eric as naïve, reckless, & irresponsible, foreshadowing his later confession.
• dismissive language (‘silly’ + ‘drinking’) reflects upper-class male privilege; he behaves badly without consequences.
• Highlights the emotional & social consequences of his actions, especially for Eva, a working-class woman.
• Reinforces Priestley’s critique of class, gender & power; Eric abuses his position, but the play allows him to change.

Question 14

ACT 3: ‘I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty’

Answer 14

• Euphemistic phrasing reflects Eric’s shame & attempts to minimise his behaviour, forcing the audience to read between the lines & confront its seriousness.
• detached tone creates discomfort, exposing the dangers of unchecked privilege & how society excuses predatory behaviour, especially in men.
• Priestley uses this admission to challenge complacency around issues like consent, power & entitlement; especially in upper-class circles.
• Reminds us how guilt & regret are often clouded by denial & societal norms.

Question 15

ACT 3: ‘You’re not the kind of father a chap can go to when he’s in trouble’

Answer 15

• Direct address (‘you’) puts emotional blame on Mr Birling, exposing the coldness of upper-class parenting.
• Highlights emotional distance & masculine repression within the family; Eric feels unable to seek support or admit vulnerability.
• Priestley presents the failure of the older generation to nurture/guide the younger, hinting at why characters like Eric spiral morally.
• Power & authority are shown to be hollow when they come without empathy or responsibility.

Question 16

ACT 3: ‘You killed her- and the child she’d have had too- my child!’

Answer 16

• Accusatory tone and repetition of “you” show a complete moral reversal — Eric, once unsure, now confronts others with confidence.
• The personal phrase ‘my child’ brings emotional intensity & highlights the real, human cost of the family’s actions.
• Priestley forces the audience to recognise how actions, especially those rooted in class prejudice & selfishness, have lasting & devastating consequences.
• Reflects a growing sense of moral responsibility, contrasting with those who continue to deflect blame.