Gerald Flashcards
‘you seem to be a nice well-behaved family’
L - verb
This is ironic because they do not behave well to Eva Smith.
C - appearances and reputation were important in the Edwardian society, so sometimes the reality was concealed from the public.
‘they’d all be broke - if I know them’
L - pronoun
the working class are treated collectively, not as individuals. This shows Gerald’s support to Mr. Birling’s capitalist views.
C - this reflects class prejudice that working class are irresponsible with money but in fact, the Birlings and Gerald are irresponsible.
‘I don’t come into this suicide business…we can keep it from him’
L - euphemism
Gerald wants to distance himself emotionally.
C - he wants to conceal affair from the Inspector and the public. His reputation is more important than honesty.
‘she knew it couldn’t last’
R - creates pathos for Daisy as she has learnt that happiness is something she cannot expect in her life as a working class girl.
C - class difference means their relationship cannot last in a highly stratified Edwardian society as it would considered scandalous. Upper middles class turn a blind eye to mistresses which is hypocritical.
‘I’m rather more-upset-by this business than I probably appear to be’
L - hyphens
The broken syntax indicates his genuine emotional distress but this does not last and he has learnt no lesson from his abuse of power over Daisy and does not change as a person.
‘everthing’s all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?’
Unlike Sheila and Eric, Gerald has not changed as a character and he has learnt no moral lesson that has changed his view of how he treats the working class or those with less power and wealth than him.
C - he assumes Sheila will accept his proposal as it is good business match regardless of his infidelity. Reflects expectations of women in Edwardian society.
‘it’s hoax…we’ve been had’
Gerald is the character who introduces the mystery that the Inspector is not on the police force.
R - audience dramatically engaged by this mystery. Gerald forms his theory that the girl they each encounter was not the same and there may be no suicide.
‘the girl…gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help’
L - metaphorical langauage makes Gerald seem as if he is Daisy’s saviour who is nobly rescuing her from prostitution. In fact, he is exploiting her vulnerability as a poor woman to keep her as his mistress, an abuse of power and wealth.
C - this reflects upper middle class abuse of power over working class.
‘she felt there’d never be anything as good again for her’
R - creates pathos for Daisy Renton
