Gerald Flashcards
Adjectives:
Charming, evasive, traditional, morally ambiguous, privileged
Role in play
Shows complicity of upper classes in maintaining unjust systems, resists change.
“I didn’t ask for anything in return.”
Attempts to justify his actions by framing them as selfless.
Priestley challenges this idea—did he exploit Daisy regardless of intent?
Gerald’s inability to change contrasts with Sheila.
Shows his altruism?
Could have ulterior motive
Gerald’s development throughout play
He shows some guilt about his affair with Eva/Daisy, but ultimately tries to deflect blame and suggests everything is fine once the Inspector’s identity is questioned.
Priestley’s message through Gerald
Gerald reflects the hypocrisy of the upper classes—appearing moral but refusing to change. Priestley critiques his desire to restore the status quo.
Themes linked to Gerald
Responsibility
Social Class
Gender and Exploitation
“We’re respectable citizens and not criminals”
- Believes criminals can only come from lower class
- Does not think anything he’s done is a crime
- Moral play
“Easy, well-bred young man-about-town”
Rule of three establish him as member of privileged class
“I don’t come into this suicide business”
- ‘Suicide business’ appears cold hearted
- Gerald appears superior as he is implying that others are responsible for Eva’s death but not him
“She didn’t blame me at all. I wish to God she had now”
- Genuine remorse and self blame
- The audience may feel some sympathy for him and think that he is going to change
By the end of play
He has learnt nothing
Sheila during Gerald’s interrogation
“But you’re forgetting I’m supposed to be engaged to the hero of it.”
- Sheila is being cynical
- Gerald is being painted as a hero
- Imagery of heroism
