Inspector Calls

roof. Another issue with the drink is when Eric asks his father if he is allowed one and Birling shouts no yet the Inspector says Eric needs this drink to see him through. Eric’s own father is unable to see Eric’s physical needs. Eric is from a younger generation who let their hair down once in a while and have a few drinks. They can often end up getting drunk which can result in them becoming pretty nasty and maybe even ending up having a sexual encounter with a girl. Birling does not understand how Eric can just get into bed with any old girl and says “so you had to go to bed with her?” Eric then retorts that he doesn’t want to get married to the “fat old tarts” he sees his fathers’ respectable friends with. Eric’s expectations for his future are very different from the future his parents have predicted for him. Eric’s interpretation of the word stolen is very different from his fathers. Eric intended to pay the money that he had taken from his fathers’ office back yet his father believes it is definitely stolen as it was taken without permission. Sometimes the interpretation of what is right and what is wrong is very different. Although Eric is in the wrong he is ultimately trying to do the right thing; something that his father does not understand. One of the main lines on page 54 is when Birling says “You damned fool – why didn’t you come to me when you found yourself in this mess?” Eric’s response is very revealing. He replied “because you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble – that’s why.” This again shows the deep rift between father and son because Eric is unable to even approach his father when in need of help. Birling is blind to the fact that maybe this awful gap between Eric and him may be all his fault. Eric believes that his mother should have done everything to protect Eva or Mrs Birling as she called herself then. Yet, his mother believes that she was totally right in what she did. There is a huge difference of opinion between Eric and his parents. The end of the play also shows a clear rift between Eric and his parents. When Gerald comes back and provides the possibility that this event never took place Mrs Birling and Birling are relieved and start to forget all about their responsibility and the lessons they have learnt. Eric on the other hand is still upset because the fact was they had murdered her through their actions. Eric cannot stand by and watch his parents and Gerald having a nice “cosy chat” forgetting that this night ever took place. Another difference shown is that when Birling finds out about the stolen money he wants to stop a public scandal yet Eric does not care at all. Eric cares more about people themselves than what others think of him. Birling has exactly the opposite view. Looking at the beginning of the play when hearing how Birling sacked Eva, Eric supports the workers and says "Why shouldn't they try for higher wages?" Eric believes that the workers deserved to be given what little they had asked for however, in Birling’s opinion if he had granted them their request he believed they would then start asking for the world and he could not have that. Eric obviously believes differently. When telling his story about Eva and how he got her pregnant Eric accepts full responsibility for his actions and is horrified at the consequences yet his parents try to shift the blame to someone else, especially his mother. In conclusion there is definitely a deep rift between Eric and his parents. They have different opinions especially on what is right and wrong, they accept different amounts of responsibility and most of all Eric’s parents are unable to understand their sons’ physical and mental needs. They have no idea how to treat their son and this is seen clearly throughout the play.