Gerald Croft - Act 1 Key Quotations

Question 1

Gerald’s initial description, portraying him as a typical upper-class masculine figure:

Answer 1

“an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well-bred young man-about-town”

Question 2

Gerald lies about his whereabouts during the Summer (cheats on Sheila, perhaps suggesting the liberties of the aristocratic classes):

Answer 2

“I was awfully busy at the works all that time”

Question 3

Gerald agrees with Birling’s misjudged predictions about the future, showing that he aligns with the upper-class, selfish viewpoints of the older generation:

Answer 3

“I believe you’re right, sir”

Question 4

Gerald’s impression of the Birlings:

Answer 4

“a nice well-behaved family”

Question 5

Gerald agrees with Birling’s selfish actions of firing Eva simply to sustain low labour costs (shows that Gerald holds the same capitalist viewpoints as Arthur and is remorseless about the exploitation of the proletariat classes):

Answer 5

• “You couldn’t have done anything else.”
• “I know we’d have done the same thing.”

Question 6

Gerald’s obsession with reputation and social status; perhaps alludes to the fact that the aristocrats evaded the consequences of the effects of their actions on others and did not take any social responsibility:

Answer 6

“After all, y’know, we’re respectable citizens and not criminals.”

Question 7

Stage directions to describe Gerald’s response after being questioned by Sheila about his interaction with Daisy:

Answer 7

“He does not reply but looks at her”
- This depicts Gerald’s wish to cover up his past dishonest actions, perhaps reflected in his stubbornness to deny any social responsibility.

Question 8

Gerald’s foolish comment about hiding the facts from the Inspector (clearly has not matured, like Sheila has):

Answer 8

“Yes. We can keep it from him.”