Analysis Of Eric Throughout An Inspector Calls

How is Eric explored throughout An Inspector Calls?

Eric is introduced in the play as a young man still figuring out his path in life. The start of the play states he is ‘half shy’ displaying nervousness and implying that he lacks of confidence. However it is also stated that he is ‘half assertive’, depicting whenever he feels passionate about something he can express his opinions. His starting words serve comically. The audience can develop an idea of how he typically acts, due to him not behaving seriously at his sister’s engagement party. However, he constantly displays his awkwardness and tension during serious topics , ‘guffawing’ and then not being able to explain why(showing also his lack of control). This action from Eric suggest he
Birling displays signs of tension with Eric, asking him questions to which Eric can’t seem to answer to. His dismissal of conversation with his father and his shyness don’t cooperate with Eric being open-minded on his thoughts. Mr Birling mentions, ‘I understand a lot of things I didn’t understand before’, after the reveal that Eric is the father of Eva’s child. By saying ‘understand’ he now acknowledges the capacity of Eric’s actions and his surprise to these, depicting his disappointment. This supports the social pressure exerted on Eric displayed throughout the acts, mainly through drinking. His bond with his father is greatly severed when Mr. Birling finds out Eric stole money, ‘You must give me a list of those accounts’. Stating ‘must’ further enhances his authority over Eric and his power as the head of family. Surprisingly, Mr. Birling cared more about the accounts than Eric’s reason for it(supporting the future child), infuriating the conversation between the two. Eric presents the current relationship he shares with his father, telling him himself that he did not ask for any kind of help since Mr. Birling is not a ‘kind of father’ he can come to when one gets in trouble. It could be argued that Eric feels unloved, doing what he does because he is trying to find his place in the world. The statement, ‘You don’t understand anything’, supports this idea. Using, ‘anything’ implies there have been previous occasions in which Mr. Birling’s support and understanding
He’s already conscious of Eric’s drinking and involvement in Eva’s last months of her life, ‘And some young men drink far too much’. The use of ‘too much’ further enhances the seriousness of Eric’s drinking. However, his objective is to make Eric realise how his involvement helped in killing Eva Smith. After stating that he was in the state that ‘a chap easily turns nasty’, it is implied he raped or assaulted Eva. Eric then experiences a wave of culpability as he admits how stupid his actions were. The Inspector stops the multiple attempts of argue from the characters towards Eric’s actions and reminds Eric of how inhumane he treated Eva Smith, ‘as if she was an animal, a thing’. Stage directions indicate that Eric starts brooding after the Inspector leaves achieves the Inspector’s goal, as he is thinking thoroughly with sadness about what he has done. By saying ‘ You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely’, he is angrily criticizing his own parents’ opinion on pretending everything was a hoax, displaying his current changed form from his parent’s ideals. He is not inclined to bury his head in the sand and forget what happened after Gerald’s very unlikely theory that the Inspector tricked them with different