Gerald

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

Gerald is perhaps the most complex character due to his mixture of capitalist coldness and morals as reflected by his age. By showing his lack of reformation, Priestley shows that some people who empathise with the poor still aren’t willing to change in order to preserve their social status – young man so intrenched in his capitalist upbringing that he can’t change- threat to society

Question 2

Para 1

Answer 2

Priestly introduces Gerald as an ideal husband and son in law, but also presents him as being in the liminal area between the generations
- ‘about thirty’- in the middle ground, foreshadowing how this liminality extends to his attitudes and ideologies.
- ‘well-bred young man about town’-fashionable socialite but foreshadows his literal going ‘about-town’ for prostitutes.
-Engagement ring ‘is the one you wanted me to have’ - seems caring and thoughtful in choosing the ring but may also be interpreted as not caring for Sheila’s own opinions because of Patriarchal dominance, showing off his wealth
-His social status also contributes to his attractiveness (as men were the only way in which women could gain wealth)- he is Birling’s key to having a higher status/higher profits
By doing this, Priestley portrays how marriages and relationships were superficial criticising that they are for status rather than real love
It is also clear that he embraces capitalist ideologies
-agreed with birlings ideologies- acceptance of self-indulgence and singular responsibility, ‘I believe you are right sir.’

Question 3

Para 2

Answer 3

Priestley presents Gerald as being indifferent towards to the lower class, to demonstrate how his aristocratic roots manipulate his thoughts
After hearing of Eva’s death
-Justifies Birling’s actions ‘yes I think you were’- showing his capitalist ideologies in being able to agree with birling with a business viewpoint, but maybe also to hold good relations with birling
- ‘knowing them they’d all be broke’- third person pronoun ‘them’ shows disdain, stereotyping the poor as wasting money
When exposed, Priestley explores the extent of Gerald’s morality and the degree to which he is prepared to lie in order to preserve his social status
- ‘we can still keep it from him’-prepared to lie and unwilling to openly take responsibility
-later in the play he lies to himself that suggesting that ‘there’s still no proof it was really the same girl’ despite drawing clear links between the victims earlier- trying to excuse his own behaviour to feel innocent
However, a more moral side is presented in Gerald as he feels genuine emotion towards Eva.
-seems heroic in saving Eva from Alderman meggarty
-sorry- Ive suddenly realised-…- she is dead’ – delayed reaction but syncopated revealing true shock and overwhelming emotion (internal conflict within Gerald, with his attempts to control natural emotion as it may seem feminine- but is needed for empathising and change)
- ‘he at least had some affection for her and made her happy’ - notes Gerald kindness, although this may have been because of his own attraction towards her, in his own interest to be a ‘wonderful fairy prince’- Eva’s relationship with him was like a fairy tale because of her class
-further doubt for his intentions created through ‘I insisted’ - use of imperatives create the impression that Gerald was in power and was in a way controlling her.
-leaves her with false hope- audience feels emotional ‘as she knew it couldn’t last’- Gerald has made her happy but has emotionally betrayed her for his own interest.
By the end of the interrogation, the audience is left with a mixed view of Gerald, but is given hope through his sympathy and kindness that he has the capacity to change

Question 4

Para 3

Answer 4

Priestley creates twist to demonstrate how some some people, despite having the capacity to change may stick to capitalist ideologies to preserve their social status, and how ideologies are engrained in him
‘He isn’t a real police inspector’…’that’s why I came back to tell you’ -more concerned about his status and the police inspector not being real
- ‘how about this ring Sheila’ demonstrates his lack of remorse, acting like nothing has happened, disillusioning his audience through his inability to chair his capitalist and selfish attitudes
By doing this Priestley’s demonstrates how some people have empathy towards the poor but choose to behave the way they do to preserve their social status, and feel entitled to take up privileges without thinking of the consequences