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What Is The Importance Of Eric Birling In An Inspector Calls

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Eric Birling's character in "An Inspector Calls" holds significant importance within the context of the play. He serves as a vehicle for the exploration of themes such as personal responsibility, social class, and moral awakening. Through his actions and dialogue, Eric contributes to the overall message of the play and offers insights into the flaws and hypocrisies of the Birling family and society at large.

One key aspect of Eric's character is his struggle with personal responsibility. Early in the play, it becomes apparent that Eric has been leading a dissolute lifestyle, as shown by his excessive drinking habits. When confronted by the Inspector about his involvement with Eva Smith, Eric initially tries to evade the truth but eventually confesses, saying, "I did what I did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her" (Act II). This admission reflects Eric's acknowledgement of his actions and his recognition that each member of the family played a part in Eva Smith's tragedy. Eric's statement underscores the importance of personal accountability and challenges the family's attempts to shift blame onto others. …show more content…

While the Birlings and Gerald Croft represent the callousness and self-interest of the upper class, Eric stands apart by displaying a sense of empathy and social awareness. He criticizes his father's capitalist mindset, saying, "You don't understand anything. You never did" (Act III), indicating his rejection of the selfish values upheld by his family. Eric's contrasting viewpoint signifies a generational divide and suggests the potential for societal

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An Inspector Calls is a morality play, filled with controversial political viewpoints attempting to persuade the audience that socialism is the way forward. Such views are voiced by The inspector, Priestley's mouthpiece. The play is set in 1912, A year followed by world war 1, the miners' strike and the sinking of the Titanic, therefore, supplying the writer with the opportunities to use dramatic irony, which Priestley does, to further influence his audience in act 2 to reconsider accepting a capitalist society. Sybil Birling is one of Priestley's characters that lack development in their attitudes towards society, particularly the lower class.

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How is Mrs birling presented in An inspector calls In an inspector call, Mrs Birling is presented in a way that makes her unlikeable. She is shown to be rude and condescending as well as arrogant. She can be seen as condescending as she often corrects her family members, especially at the begging of the first act, she is very concerned with keeping up appearances and making sure that her family behaves properly.

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An Inspector Calls written by J. B. Priestly was first published in 1945. It is a play which has a strong focus on the themes of social responsibility, age, gender, and class. Priestly uses these themes to remind us that not being aware of our actions can sometimes lead to other receiving them as consequences. He wants us to be responsible for both the welfare and behaviours of ourselves but also of others. In the play, we find that some characters tend to be more immersed in either themselves or money/business and this leads them to being a lot less of an admirable character than the ones who are willing to recognise and acknowledge their mistakes.

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Throughout the play Mr Birling is shown to be solely focused on the effects that anything might have on his business. This is shown early in the play when he makes a speech surrounding his daughter and competitor's son Gerald Croft marriage. He begins the speech by saying ‘ It is one of the happiest nights of my life’ suggesting that he is talking about the marriage but by the end he says ‘ we may look to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing’ by saying this he triggers a negative reaction from the audience as well as Sheila and Mrs Birling. These comments further proves that the marriage of his own daughter is more of a business move for his

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