Eric Birling

Question 1

• Encapsulates his character, how he is very withdrawn but also very secretive
  E

Answer 1

‘Half shy, half assertive’

Question 2

• Illustrates how intensely selfish he was
  E

Answer 2

‘I don’t remember….that’s the hellish thing’

Question 3

• The use of colloquial language ‘you lot’, shows that he is like an outsider
• Showing that he also thinks like an outsider, therefore he can see and understand things easily from the inspector’s perspective.
  E

Answer 3

‘You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely but i can’t’

Question 4

• The patriarchal control
• Eric uses language to distance himself from the sexual abuse of Eva
• He refers to himself as a ‘chap’, and he says that anyone that is really drunk might do something like that.
• This is a way to excuse his actions
• He knows that his actions are unforgivable, but his language still tries to do that because society does that
• Society allows these mens to exploit Eva and even encourages it because the only way she can get any kind of financial security is by considering selling herself
  E

Answer 4

‘I was in that state where a chap easily turns nasty’