Gerakd

Question 1

Confident

At the start of the play he seems very comfortable - making himself at home and behaving like a member of the Birling family he even makes fun of Eric.

Answer 1

“Sure to be, unless Eric’s been up to something.”
Mr Birling suggests that he is in line for a knighthood so long as the family have behaved themselves. Gerald confidently makes a joke at Eric’s expense which is full of irony.

Question 2

Evasive

At first, when the truth comes out about his affair with Eva Smith he tries to avoid the subject.

Answer 2

“All right. I knew her. Let’s leave it at that.”

This abrupt line of dialogue shows how initially Gerald is very evasive about his involvement with Eva Smith and wants to close down the topic as soon as possible.

Question 3

Honest

Eventually Gerald gains some respect from Sheila and the audience for being honest about his affair.

Answer 3

“The girl saw me looking at her and then gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help.”

Gerald honestly tells the story of how he met Eva. He was in the wrong to have an affair and then abandon Eva but, his use of emotive language ‘cry for help’ makes us realise that he genuinely felt sorry for her and wanted to help her.