Gerald Croft

Question 1

Character summary of Gerald Croft

Answer 1

Son of a wealthy businessman (Mr Croft of Crofts Limited in competition with Birling & Co.).
He constantly agrees with Mr Birling in the beginning of the play, portraying his immoral manner and his inability to think for himself (childish behaviours)

Question 2

Context of Gerald Croft

Answer 2

In 1912 British society, the only route to wealth for a woman would be to marry into it (women would be forbidden from opening bank accounts & therefore had no money to their name)

Question 3

Key quotes of Gerald Croft

Answer 3

“Well-bred young man-about-town” - attractive, fashionable socialite (foreshadows his unfaithful nature later on in the play)
“Too manly to be dandy” - content/confident in his own masculinity therefore outgoing and wishes to be dominant over women
“Where did you get the idea that i did know her?” - defensive. Also shows the omniscience of the Inspector
His interactions with Eva Smith create a semantic field of business/finance - shown by use of: “in return” “business” - implies that he perceives the relationship as transactions, much like his marriage to Sheila