Gender Flashcards
Gender quote 1
“Oh-Gerald-you’ve got it-is it the one you wanted me to have?”-
the use of the second person pronoun ‘you’ already hints at Gerald dictates and imposes his own views on Sheila; the ring is a motif of Gerald’s control and ownership over Sheila.
Gender quote 2
“(approaching her) Now listen, darling - / No, that’s no use”
Gerald’s use of term of endearment attempts to placate Sheila but Sheila curt, blunt interjection shows she is no longer easily charmed or persuaded by him. There is a reversal in the power dynamics of their relationship, “she looks at him almost in triumph. He looks crushed”, the juxtaposition in the stage directions suggest Sheila has the upper hand in the relationship now.
Gender quote 3
“She looked young and fresh and charming” -
noun “fresh’ connotates purity presenting Eva as prey for Gerald implying Gerald is acting on primal and lustful desires however some may argue that idea of innocence may of be the reason Gerald pursued the relationship making it a heroic response to the sympathy he felt towards her.
Polysyndeton demonstrates his fond reminiscent regarding Eva which can be seen as selfish seeming as Sheila is with him. Also the attributes have a preoccupation on her looks.
Gender quote 4
“(with sharp sarcasm) Of course not. You were the wonderful. Fairly Prince. You must have adored it Gerald”,
here Sheila questions Gerald intentions by direct confronting him indtead of accepting him blindly like previously demonstrating Priestley has given Sheila a voice to challenge patriarchal control.
Alternatively, her sarcasm ay be a representative of the hurt and anger she is feeling demonstrating how women were expected to internalise betrayal quietly but her she is given a voice.
Gender quote 5
“she was pretty and a good sport”
‘sport’ evokes connotations od games or amusement shedding light on Eric perspective of his relationship with Eva as a form of selfish entertainment exposing his exploitation and objectification of her reducing her to a tool of gratification for him. Furthermore the use of “pretty” reduces her to her superficial appearance.
