Gerald Flashcards
‘…is an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well-bred man about town.’ (p.1)
Use of the adjective ‘attractive’ brings attention to Gerald’s physical appearance. On the surface, he appears well-matched to Sheila who has previously been described as ‘pretty’.
• Gerald appears older than Sheila and Eric but younger than Arthur and Sybil. Throughout the play, despite being closer in age to the younger generation, Gerald appears to harbour the same mindset as the older generation as he also refuses to acknowledge his part in the events leading to Eva Smith’s demise.
• Use of the phrase ‘too manly to be a dandy’ brings attention to Gerald’s stereotypical masculine attributes. Perhaps his physical presentation is an indicator of his traditional and outdated views.
• Reference to Gerald as the ‘easy well-bred man about town’ reminds the audience of his social status whilst also foreshadowing his dalliance with Eva who he meets by chance at a bar.
‘And I’ve told you — I was awfully busy at the works all that time’ (p.3)
And I’ve told you’ – Shows that Gerald has told her before, which could define Sheila’s disbelief in Gerald and how he can sometimes be untrustworthy.
• Somewhat threatening tone, tries to silence her voice slightly in an attempt to hide any suspicions about the real reason as to why he did not meet Sheila
• ‘Awfully busy at the works all that time’ – Gerald attempts to cover up his affair with Eva Smith, which we find out later in the play.
‘I believe you’re right, sir’ (p.6)
Gerald is completely in agreement with Mr Birling, and doesn’t question him, showing how Mr Birling has convinced Gerald that he is part of the family.
• Strong alignment between Gerald and Mr Birling as they both possess capitalist ideologies
• “Sir” – refers to Mr Birling in a respectful manner, displaying how they are forming somewhat of a
relationship
‘(lightly) Sure to be. Unless Eric’s been up to something.(Nodding confidently to Birling) And that would be very awkward wouldn’t it? (pg 10)
• (nodding confidently to birling) the adverb ‘confidently’ shows how he is willingly keen to align himself with Mr Birling
• “Lightly” – irony and foreshadowing. He treats Eric’s mistakes in a joking manner, but he too has been involved
• “Confidently” – able to confide in one another, which demonstrates that they have built trust with each other
generation
‘…I happened to look in, one night, after a long dull day…’ (p.34)
“Happened” – the verb makes it seem that this happened by accident, or by chance. Gerald uses this in order to make his encounter with Eva Smith seem like an accidental, in order to divert any attention from himself.
• “Long, dull day” – Gerald is quite untruthful at this point in the play, and the audience may distrust him
• Gerald is quite unfaithful towards Sheila, and the audience may question his loyalty towards Sheila.
• He attempts to justify his actions.
‘I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women, but then I noticed a girl who looked quite different…’ (p.34)
Preoccupied with the aesthetic – solely mentions appearance ‘hard-eyed dough-faced’
• ‘hate’ -> if he hates the women, why would he be there -> lying -> not ready to accept full responsibility +
untrustworthy
• Similar to Mr B, Gerald is untrustworthy, indicating that although he is closer in age to the younger
generation, he aligns with the capitalist views of the older generation
“We went along to the county hotel, which I knew would be quiet at that time of night” (p.36)
“We went along” – seems like Eva Smith had a choice but audience may think otherwise due to his untrustworthy nature
• “Which I knew would be quiet at that time of night”- he knew that he was not acting with integrity therefore he didn’t want others to know as it may affect his reputation. Went at that time as he knew he wouldn’t be disturbed.
• Gerald seems to know a lot about the County Hotel which suggests that he has gone there before.
“All right — I did for a time. Nearly any man would have done.” (p.38)
“all right-”-The use of the hyphen here demonstrates how he is hesitant to continue as well as the short phrase ‘I did for a time” shows how reluctant he is to disclose any more details because he wants to protect his reputation
• “nearly any man”- the use of this phrase suggests how he is generalising all men during that time showing he how he is sort of scapegoating other men as a way to excuse his behaviour
‘I hope you don’t mind my coming back?’ (p.61)
Gerald doesn’t feel the same confidence as he did at the start of the play - the Inspector revealed what he had done to Eva Smith, and he has been left somewhat shaken by it
• “?” – no longer speaks with the same conviction and confident tone as he did in act 1. Further emphasises how the revelation of the truth has left him quite anxious.
‘This is Mr Gerald Croft – of Crofts Limited‘ (p.69)
‘Mr Gerald Croft’ + ‘of Crofts Limited’ -> uses his status as a tool to manipulate others into doing what he wants them to
• Higher vs Lower classes -> higher classes get to do whatever they want
‘We’re rather worried about one of our employees’ (p.69-70)
‘rather worried’ -> presents himself as caring to get what he wants but actually is not -> duplicitous
• ‘we’ + ‘our’ -> similar to Mr B, when he wants to be seen as innocent he uses ‘we/us’ -> harbours views of older
generation due to being old money
• ‘employees’ -> was Mr B’s employee not his -> again aligning with Mr B and older generation’ capitalist views
• By referring her as an ‘employee’, this could draw to attention how Gerald detaches himself and remains wilfully
ignorant towards the struggles of the lower class.
