Eric And Shelia's Relationship Analysis

Eric’s attitude towards various characters changes over the course of the play. In the beginning, Eric and Shelia appear to have a fairly typical sibling relationship with Eric’s obvious drunkenness- ‘Eric suddenly guffaws’ obviously exasperating Shelia- ‘You’re squiffy’, who is excited because she is celebrating her engagement party. By the end of the play, Eric and Shelia appear to have improved their relationship with each other, as Eric starts to agree with Shelia ‘she’s right’, but lost a great deal of trust in their relationship with their parents. Both Eric and Shelia agree with the Inspector that ‘we are all responsible for each other’. They both represent the socialist views typically held of the younger generation. This was hinted
Eric seems desperate for his father’s approval, and for Mr Birling to show any sort of affection or love towards Eric, which Mr Birling is oblivious to ‘Because you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble’. However, by the end of the play, Eric does not appear to care what his father thinks of him, as when Mr Birling says to Eric ‘You’re the one I blame for this’, and Eric replies ‘I’ll bet I am… I don’t care now’. If Mr Birling had said that to Eric in the beginning of Act 1, Eric would have assumed that it is his fault, and would have begged for Mr Birling’s forgiveness. Eric also now realises that his parents are not perfect- ‘I’m ashamed of you as well- yes both of you’. In addition, after Inspector Goole leaves the Birling’s, after his speech about capitalism and communism, one of the first things that Mr Birling says is that ‘There’ll be a public scandal… I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours list’. This reveals how little Mr Birling learns or cares about what happened, and also how he is not in the slightest concerned about Eric’s welfare after he has heard such shocking news. Mr Birling also tries to blame Eric by accusing Eric- ‘you’ve been spoilt’. In addition, Mr Birling takes no responsibility for Eric allegedly spoiling Eric, even though Mr Birling played a big part in helping to raise Eric. Even though Eric appears to be very jealous of Gerald and Mr Birling’s relationship, as they both stay in the dinning room while Eric, Shelia and Mrs Birling go into the drawing room. This shows how Eric is not yet considered a man, and still viewed as a child, which is why he goes with his