Final answer:
The question seeks a character reaction analysis for a character named Eric, which requires context that isn't provided. Without the text, one cannot accurately determine Eric's reaction to a serious topic being treated as a joke.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking for a character analysis, which involves understanding how a character from a text reacts to certain situations or stimuli. In this case, the question is about a character named Eric and his reaction to a serious topic being treated as a joke. Without context from specific literature or text, I cannot provide a definitive answer to this question. However, character reaction is a significant element in understanding literature and the development of themes within a text. It is important to consider the text as a whole, the character's development, and other cues the author may provide to infer how a character like Eric would react. For literary analysis, readers often look for patterns in a character's behavior or statements from the author that may provide insight into a character's personality and potential reactions.