Character Analysis: Gerald

Question 1

Analyse:

‘ the easy well-bred young man-about-town’.

Answer 1

Priestley’s triplet of adjectives reveals the character’s air of arrogance in which he feels beyond reproach for any actions he might choose to do due to social standing.

Question 2

Analyse:
“ for lower costs and higher prices”
“Hear, hear! And I think my father would agree to that.”

Answer 2

“ for lower costs and higher prices” accepts the capitalist rhetoric of Birling.
“Hear, hear! And I think my father would agree to that.” idiomatic phrase signals his approval as well as establishes the system is one that has worked unchallenged by the older generations from which they have benefited.

Question 3

Analyse:

“We’re respectable citizens and not criminals.”

Answer 3

Gerald shares the same values as Mr birling as they’re both from rich backgrounds therefore generational divide does not include Gerald as a character. “We’re respectable citizens and not criminals.” Dramatic irony is reinforced in this quote , since both Gerald and Mr Birling exemplify a facade of respectability which is revealed to be fundamentally flawed by the inspector’s strategic manipulation.

Question 4

Analyse:

“You couldn’t have done anything else.”

Answer 4

Gerald’s capitalist views are presented in this affirmation as he defends Mr Birling in handling this strike.

Question 5

Analyse:

“ Nearly any man would have done”

Answer 5

Gerald fails to take responsibility and attempts to shift the blame by making a generalisation regarding gender beyond class. The modifier “ nearly” in his excuse that “ Nearly any man would have done” suggests that there is level of doubt in his own actions.

Question 6

Analyse:

“She told me she’d been happier than she’d ever been before”

Answer 6

Use of the comparative “happier” alludes to his emotional connection with Eva, suggesting that there was authenticity in his communication with Eva that he could not achieve in the socially repressed upper classes.

Question 7

Analyse:

“ Everything’s all right now Sheila. ( holds up the ring)”.

Answer 7

Act 3 stage directions demonstrate the extent to which Gerald as a privileged upper class male remains unchanged by his actions, revealing his adherence to a system of exploitation from which he benefits. Lack of empathy to Sheila

Question 8

Analyse:

“I’m rather more -upset- by this business than I probably appear to be,”

Answer 8

The dashes suppresses his emotions as he attempts to maintain himself, then slipping back to euphemism to emotionally distance himself.