Gerald

Question 1

How does Priestley present Gerald through the play?

“Priestley uses Gerald Croft as a..

Answer 1

.. symbol of unthinking privilege.

Question 2

What words can be used to describe Gerald?

Answer 2

Self- serving, privileged, disloyal, money orientated, secretive, sympathetic, untrustworthy, wealthy, upper class.

Question 3

At the beginning of the inspection Priestley establishes Gerald as..

Answer 3

..a symbol of the values of the upper class capitalism.

Question 4

“Easy well-bred young man about town.”

Answer 4

Stage directions
Came from a privileged background.
Confident and relaxed, he is complacent and self satisfied.

Question 5

“I believe you’re right sir”
(To Mr B about the Titanic)

Answer 5

Very complacent and naive
Irony

Question 6

“She was pretty soft brown hair and big dark eyes- [breaks off] My god!”

Answer 6

• her value for Gerald is her attractiveness.
  Stage directions= 1) really cares for her
  2) he only values her physical appearance.

Question 7

“I suppose it was inevitable.”

(When asked if Eva was his mistress)

Answer 7

• Justifying his behaviour
• trying to normalise the situation

Question 8

“But how do you know it’s the same girl?”

Answer 8

Trying to make it sound any better.
Shows his lack of responsibility.
Repeated questions to challenge the existence of the inspector.

Question 9

“Everything’s all right now, Sheila. (Holds up the ring)”

Answer 9

brushes everything off
Symbolic of his lack of shame
Stage directions

Question 10

“we’re respectable citizens and not criminals.”

Answer 10

Ironic - they are not moral
Ignored the fact that they took advantage of Eva.