We are also indicated that Eric represents younger generations, who have started to have different view from the older generation this is because he differentiates Eric’s socialist views from his fathers capitalist ones. This is shown when Eric talks about Eva No, I mean about this girl - Eva Smith. Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices. At the start of the play, Eric shows that he can be assertive. We see that from this, he questions why his father decided to sack Eva Smith. He backs up his point with a well-reasoned argument however his father quickly shouts him down. We also see that in this period of time that the old are set in their ways because of how they grew up. They are utterly confident that they are right and they see the young, as foolish, Eric is …show more content…
Birling would do anything to protect themselves as when each of them were shown the photo the first is I've got to cover this up as soon as I can which shows all that they can think about is how to cover up the scandal. However Eric admits the role he played in aiding Eva Smith to committing suicide. Priestley shows us that Eric feels remorseful as he says the fact remains that I did what I did. During this epoch, the old had never been forced to ponder over the principles of what they thought was considered right and wrong in society and this helps to reinforce Priestley’s message as he shows us that the younger generation are the future and mentalities during that epoch were changing towards those who were lover down in the social hierarchy. Unlike his parents, when hearing of inspector’s tale of Eva’s suicide Eric is agitated and emotional, and we can finally see through the cracks of his drunken façade and are now able to notice that underneath it all he actually feels compassion for the