🧑🏻 gerald

Question 1

• gerald
• capitalist
• similar views with Mr Birling

Answer 1

‘I think my father would agree to that, too’

Question 2

• gerald
• denies that he is responsible for Eva Smith’s suicide
• It could be said that he is right, in that he did try to support Eva financially and provided her a place to stay.
• The heavily classist nature of British society made marriage between them virtually inconcievable, even if he hadn’t been in a relationship with Sheila.

Answer 2

‘I’m sorry, Sheila. But it was all over and done with, last summer. I hadn’t set eyes on the girl for at least six months. I don’t come into this suicide business.’

Question 3

• gerald
• let all the female workers back except for the ring leaders which included Eva Smith.
• Gerald believes that this was the only option available to Birling so in a way he supports the capitalist system
• Rather than having a more compassionate attitude that even the leaders of the strike should have been reinstated as they too were economically dependent on these jobs he supports their dismissal
• ignorance of the plight of the working class poor
• agree with future father in law for the sake of forming a strong relationship with him, or could be used to exemplify his capitalist views money > ppl

Answer 3

‘You couldn’t have done anything else’ (to firing)

Question 4

• sheila says to gerald
• gerald gives her a bad look
• may think shes a silly emotional women
• shocked at her actions
• shocked that she feels guilty

Answer 4

Sheila:
‘No not really. It was my own fault. (Suddenly to Gerald) All right, Gerald, you needn’t look at me like that’

Question 5

• gerald stage directions
• inability or refusal to reply
• refuses to accept his involvement with Daisy as it is too painful -> sympathetic interpretation
• or thought he could keep the affair a secret, which makes him deceptive and untrustworthy

Answer 5

‘He does not reply / He does not reply but looks at her’

Question 6

• gerald
• gender and class disparities
• Gerald was socially and financially more powerful and able to support Eva
• She was dependent on him. This dependence created gratitude and thus a form of love. His feelings to her were one more of pity though he did engage in an illicit affair with her.

Answer 6

I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me

Question 7

• gerald
• stage directions makes him wants to have show off moment and demands power and attention because he is lost in his status
• he is relieved and excited that he is free from blame
• refuses to accept responsbility and was in denial about how he treated Eva
• he’s looking for a way out snd wants to know that everything was false

Answer 7

‘(slowly) That man wasn’t a police officer’

Question 8

• gerald
• ring is traditional symbol of power and possession -> he asserts power of Sheila
• he has learned nothing
• in eyes, he has done nothing wrong and has no remorse

Answer 8

‘Everything’s all right now, Sheila. (Holds up the ring) What about this ring?’