Eric is the Birlings' youngest son, an alcoholic. He had a short affair with Eva, got her pregnant, and then stole money from his father's firm to give her.
- There is a suspicion that he treats Eva violently. 'I’m not very clear about it, but afterwards she told me she didn’t want to go in but that – well I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty – and I threatened to make a row' (52).
- He blames his father for his predicament. ‘you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble’ (55)
- He gets more and more agitated as the truth is revealed and also blames his mother. ‘your own grandchild – you killed them both – damn you, damn you’ (55).
- At the end, like Sheila, he has been genuinely changed by the night’s
- events and is upset that his parents don’t feel the same way. ‘I agree with Sheila. It frightens me too.’ (71)
