Key Quotes - Gerald Croft Flashcards
‘…is an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well-bred man about town.’ (p.1)
Use of the adjective ‘attractive’ brings attention to Gerald’s physical appearance. On the surface, he appears well-matched to Sheila who has previously been described as ‘pretty’.
Gerald appears older than Sheila and Eric but younger than Arthur and Sybil. Throughout the play, despite being closer in age to the younger generation, Gerald appears to harbour the same mindset as the older generation as he also refuses to acknowledge his part in the events leading to Eva Smith’s demise.
Use of the phrase ‘too manly to be a dandy’ brings attention to Gerald’s stereotypical masculine attributes. Perhaps his physical presentation is an indicator of his traditional and outdated views.
Reference to Gerald as the ‘easy well-bred man about town’ reminds the audience of his social status whilst also foreshadowing his dalliance with Eva who he meets by chance at a bar.
Act 1
‘And I’ve told you — I was awfully busy at the works all that time’ (p.3)
And I’ve told you’ – Shows that Gerald has told her before, which could define Sheila’s disbelief in Gerald and how he can sometimes be untrustworthy.
Somewhat threatening tone, tries to silence her voice slightly in an attempt to hide any suspicions about the real reason as to why he did not meet Sheila
‘Awfully busy at the works all that time’ – Gerald attempts to cover up his affair with Eva Smith, which we find out later in the play.
Act 1
‘Not if it was just after the holidays. They’d be all broke - if I know them.’ (Pg15)
Shows his condescending view of the working class
‘They’d all be broke’—he views the working class as frivolous and irresponsible
Shows a detachment from them and an ignorance as he doesn’t know what it is like to be them
Again shows how Gerald is quick to support Mr Birling’s views
Act 1
‘I’d like to have a look at that photograph now, Inspector’ (p.21)
Statement not a question, as he attempts to exert his upper class status upon the Inspector as a means to intimidate him
“Now” – demanding tone
Feels somewhat entitled, and feels that he must look at the photograph due to his status.
Act 1
‘All right. I knew her. Let’s leave it at that.’ (p.26)
‘don’t say anything to the Inspector’ (p.26)
‘Let’s leave it at that’ -> does not want to say the truth in order to protect his reputation (fixated on social reputation) -> aligns with Mr B, therefore older generation therefore capitalism
‘.’ -> conviction -> emphasises his desire to shut down the conversation
Wants to hide incriminating evidence -> concerned more about his reputation rather than social responsibility -> older generation
Does not understand the omniscient nature of the Inspector -> believes that he can hide the truth from him -> ignorant -> older generation.
Act 1
‘Why should you? It’s bound to be unpleasant and disturbing’(p.26)
Gerald ostensibly wants Sheila leave the situation to protect her from the harshness of the situation but actually does not want her there so she does not learnt about his affair -> disguises his selfishness as being caring -> duplicitous
At the time women were not treated as equal to men and popular belief was that they should be shielded from the harsh realities of the world -> conforming to this belief + has views of older generation
Act 2
‘I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women, but then I noticed a girl who looked quite different…’ (p.34)
“Happened” – the verb makes it seem that this happened by accident, or by chance. Gerald uses this in order to make his encounter with Eva Smith seem like an accidental, in order to divert any attention from himself.
“Long, dull day” – Gerald is quite untruthful at this point in the play, and the audience may distrust him
Gerald is quite unfaithful towards Sheila, and the audience may question his loyalty towards Sheila.
He attempts to justify his actions.
Act 2
“I-well, I’ve suddenly realised- taken it in properly- that she’s dead-“ (p.35)
Emotional response ONLY when he remembers her beauty -> preoccupied with the aesthetic
dashes -> hesitation -> so emotional that he is lost for words- it has taken a significant amount of time to reach this conclusion
Since he was preoccupied with the superficial nature of her beauty, he never formed an emotional connection with Eva.
Act 2
“All right — I did for a time. Nearly any man would have done.” (p.38)
“all right-”-The use of the hyphen here demonstrates how he is hesitant to continue as well as the short phrase ‘I did for a time” shows how reluctant he is to disclose any more details because he wants to protect his reputation
“nearly any man”- the use of this phrase suggests how he is generalising all men during that time showing he how he is sort of scapegoating other men as a way to excuse his behaviour
Act 2
‘I hope you don’t mind my coming back?’ (p.61)
Gerald doesn’t feel the same confidence as he did at the start of the play - the Inspector revealed what he had done to Eva Smith, and he has been left somewhat shaken by it
“?” – no longer speaks with the same conviction and confident tone as he did in act 1. Further emphasises how the revelation of the truth has left him quite anxious.
Act 3
‘I did keep a girl last summer. I’ve admitted it. And I’m sorry Sheila’ (p.66)
Gerald seemingly apologises for his actions, but it is too late
His tone seems somewhat insincere, which demonstrates that he does not feel remorseful for his actions.
“Keep” – verb which somewhat dehumanises Eva Smith, as she is not treated as an individual, but rather like a pet
“A girl” – noun which anonymises her. He does not mention her name as he wishes to depersonalise his interaction with her
Act 3
‘We’re rather worried about one of our employees’ (p.69-70)
‘rather worried’ -> presents himself as caring to get what he wants but actually is not -> duplicitous
‘we’ + ‘our’ -> similar to Mr B, when he wants to be seen as innocent he uses ‘we/us’ -> harbours views of older generation due to being old money
‘employees’ -> was Mr B’s employee not his -> again aligning with Mr B and older generation’ capitalist views
By referring her as an ‘employee’, this could draw to attention how Gerald detaches himself and remains wilfully ignorant towards the struggles of the lower class.
Act 3
(Mrs Birling) ‘Gerald, you’ve argued this very cleverly, and I’m most grateful’ (p.70)
‘very cleverly praises’ -> Gerald even though he was unfaithful -> due to Gerald’s status, others neglect his wrongdoings and only focus on positives
Putting family’s happiness on the line for Gerald’s approval
Act 3
