Gerald Flashcards
You seem to be a nice well-behaved family -‘
Irony from Priestley here. Appearances can be deceptive but ‘appearance’ and ‘reputation’ are of immense importance to the likes of the elder Birlings and many in high-class English society at the time. Despite seeming to be a nice and well-behaved family we find out how cruel some of their behaviour is.
Sure to be. Unless Eric’s been up to something. (nodding confidentially to Birling.) and that would be awkward, wouldn’t it?
Mr Birling’s maid tells Birling that an inspector is at the door to which Birling replies it must be about a warrant. Gerald agrees with him and yet again we see irony from Priestley saying via Gerald maybe Eric has been up to something.
You couldn’t have done anything else.
This is said in reply Mr Birling saying that a week after the strike that Eva Smith helped to organise he let all the female workers back except for the ring leaders which included Eva Smith.
Yes, I think you were. I know we’d have done the same thing. Don’t look like that Sheila.
Again said in support of Birling’s dismissal of Eva Smith. Gerald says this fully aware that Eva is dead. Despite the death of a young woman he supports the capitalist method of doing things here e.g. dismissing ‘troublesome’ workers. Money comes above lives.
Well, there’s nothing to settle as far as I’m concerned. I’ve never known an Eva Smith.
This is an interesting quote and ironic and perhaps contains a deeper significance than meets the eye. First of all unknown to Gerald he did ‘know’ the woman that was Eva Smith albeit under a different name. So he is wrong.
After all, y’know, we’re respectable citizens and not criminals
This myth is going to be blown apart during the course of the play including regarding Gerald himself. Whilst not an ‘adulterer’ in the strict sense as he was not married to Sheila he was in a relationship with her and cheated on her. The rest of the Birlings are also exposed for their cruel treatment of Eva.
“An attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but
very much the easy well-bred young man-about-town”
Gerald is inevitably careful and correct about what he says.
“Well, it came just at the right moment. That was clever of you,
Gerald.”
Mrs Birling’s admiration of Gerald’s cleverness is echoed at the
end of the play. There are many parallels like this in the play’s
construction, which link in with Priestley’s ideas on timing.
(about Sheila): “She’s obviously had about as much as she can stand”
Gerald and Sheila use irony in their interchange when he says
“You’re going to be a great help” and “I’m glad I amuse you”.
The irony highlights for us the tension between the two of them.
‘[Daisy] gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help”
Gerald uses imagery of a rescue mission when describing his
role in Daisy Renton’s death. He does this to lessen his guilt and
try and justify his behaviour.
