Gerald Croft Flashcards
After all, y’know, we’re respectable citizens and not criminals
This myth is going to be blown apart during the course of the play including regarding Gerald himself. Whilst not an ‘adulterer’ in the strict sense as he was not married to Sheila he was in a relationship with her and cheated on her. The rest of the Birlings are also exposed for their cruel treatment of Eva.
They cannot indulge in their self-perception of themselves as being ‘holier than thou’ respectable upper-middle class people. This may be extended to the upper-middle class in Britain in general. They cannot self-glorify themselves and vilify the poor. Both the poor and rich are human. The rich have faults, the poor have virtues.
sorry – I – well, I’ve suddenly realized – taken it in properly – that’s she’s dead–
Gerald had earlier been supporting Birling verbally over his dismissal of Eva from her job however the humanity within him rises to the fore and prevails over the businessman who wants to make money.
No longer is she a troublesome worker who was ‘rightfully’ fired but she is a human being who, whilst narrating to the inspector how he first met, he is clearly have mental images of her. It hits home to him the same young woman he met that night is now dead. It clearly saddens him.
Gerald is a complex character who cannot be totally respected as a gentleman nor totally criticized as a money-orientated businessman. He is both and his personality is fluid depending on the context as is the case with most people.
Of course!
In contrast to Sheila who says whether the inspector being a real police officer or not is irrelevant contrary to her father’s opinion, Gerald agrees with Birling. Sheila is more focused on the human aspect of Eva’s tale, of the loss of life a fellow human being. Birling is virtually indifferent and more focused on his own self-centred interests including avoiding damage to his reputation. In this regard Gerald is closer to Birling than to Sheila. Gerald is a complex character and cannot be neatly labelled ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
