Gerald quotes Flashcards
1)
“I was awfully busy at the works all that time”
declarative sentence - shows how Gerald is trying to justify not seeing Sheila the previous summer. He is lying which causes the reader to immediately see Gerald’s dishonest character/suspicion of infidelity
2)
“You’ve been through it - and now you want to see someone else put through it”
repetition of the phrase “through it”/euphemism - implies that Gerald is more worried about what will happen to him/social position (links him to Birling) rather than the consequences of his actions on Eva Smith.
3)
“The girl… gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help
visual imagery - “cry for help” used by Gerald to make it seem like he was only trying to help Eva/Daisy which creates a sense of respect towards Gerald, from the reader. It also shows that he is trying to stay out of trouble with both the inspector and Sheila.
4)
(laughs) “You seem to be a nice well-behaved family - “
stage directions - conveys his nonchalant attitude as his ironic statement foreshadows what is to come for the family, as well as himself.
5)
(lightly) “Sure to be. Unless Eric’s been up to something. (Nodding confidentially to Birling.) And that would be awkward, wouldn’t it”?
stage directions - once again highlight Gerald’s complacency as he once again foreshadows the events later on in the play; this time through Eric’s actions.
6)
“Yes, I think you were. I know we’d have done the same thing. Don’t look like that Sheila”
simple sentence - verb “know” shows his assurity as he defends Birling’s decision to put Eva Smith out of the works. This emphasises Gerald and Birling’s conformity. It also suggests that his statement clearly warrants the disapproval of Sheila; which builds tension between the two due to their differing viewpoints.
7)
“After all, y’know, we’re respectable citizens and not criminals”
adjective “respectable” and allitertation - used by Priestly to once again convey Gerald’s complacent nature. Priestly is trying to disprove the common ideology in the Edwardian Era: that the upper class were untouchable.
8)
“Yes. We can keep it from him”
short sentence - used by Gerald to show how desparate he is to hide his actions from the inspector; suggests that he shows no genuine remorse for what he did, just as long as his reputation stays intact.
9)
“I became at once the most important person in her life - you understand?”
adjective “important” - illustrates just how much Eva/Daisy relied on Gerald. This shows how Gerald’s actions could be viewed as chivalrous/for the right intentions.
10)
“Well, you were right. There isn’t any such inspector. We’ve been had”
excited tone - Gerald is determined to discover whether Inspector Goole is real; as he wants to be freed of any accusations so his social position is not affected.
11)
(decisively) “We can settle that at once”
stage directions - imply how Gerald was desperate to disprove the inspector’s authenticity [see above]
12)
“Everything’s all right now, Sheila. (Holds up the ring.) What about the ring”?
dialogue at the end of act three - Priestly is portraying Gerald’s charcater in a similar to the older Birlings. Gerald acts a bridge between the younger and older generation; as he shows some remorse/takes some responsibility but by the end of the play his moral view seems unchanged as he nearly pretends that nothing really happened. This can be depicted as he immediately tries to rectify his relations with Sheila.
