ometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You'll have to get used to that, just as I had.' This suggests that their relationship is not very close. Later, Eric says that he sees some of Birling's 'respectable friends' with 'fat old tarts round the town'. Birling's reaction to this is anger and he clearly does not want any further mention of that topic. From this reaction, it is possible to conclude that Birling might also go to prostitutes, as that sort of behavior was fairly common amongst upper-middle-class men at that time.
             There is a suggestion that Gerald had an affair because Sheila says to him 'all last summer.... you never came near me'. There is also a hint at Eric's drinking problem because even at dinner Sheila notices that he is 'squiffy.' He later acts uneasily when Gerald and his father are joking with him about the possibility of him having 'been up to something and he says that he does not 'think it's very funny.' The audience knows that the joke was harmless and might wonder what Eric has to worry
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