Gerald Croft

• Who is Gerald in relation to Sheila?


  Gerald is Sheila's fiancé.
• What is the name of Gerald's father's company?


  The company is called Crofts Limited.
• How does Gerald's family background affect his social status?


  Gerald's family is socially superior to the Birlings.
• How does Priestley describe Gerald in the stage directions?


  Priestley describes Gerald as “an attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well-bred young man-about-town.”
• What role does Gerald play in Eva's suicide?


  Gerald contributes to the chain of events that drive Eva to suicide by using her as a mistress.
• What does Gerald represent in the context of the upper-class?


  Gerald represents the individualism of the upper-class.
• How does Gerald's character affect the audience's expectations?


  Gerald disillusions the audience, who hopes he would change his capitalist and selfish attitudes.
• What does Gerald's failure to develop a sense of social responsibility convey?


  It conveys how entrenched upper-class attitudes are; even death won’t change them.
• How is Gerald's physical appearance described?


  Gerald is portrayed as a physically attractive, privileged but likable man.
• What does the phrase “rather too manly to be a dandy” suggest about Gerald?


  It suggests that he is confident in his own masculinity.
• What does the idiomatic phrase “easy well-bred young man-about-town” imply about Gerald?


  It suggests that Gerald is a fashionable socialite and may foreshadow his unfaithful nature.
• How does Gerald's relatively minor role early in the play affect audience perception?


  It causes the audience to be ambivalent in how to feel towards him.
• Why is Gerald considered an ideal husband and son-in-law?


  Due to his financial security and higher social status.
• What does Sheila's question about the engagement ring reveal about Gerald?


  It reveals that Gerald is caring and thoughtful.
• How does Gerald's attitude contrast with Mr. Birling's?


  Gerald's humbleness contrasts with Mr. Birling's pompous and arrogant opinions.
• What societal context does Gerald's social status contribute to?


  In 1912 British society, the only route to wealth for a woman was to marry into it.
• How does Priestley portray Gerald's nighttime activities?


  Priestley portrays Gerald as spending considerable time in bars and socializing with prostitutes.
• What does Gerald's description of prostitutes reveal about him?


  It reveals his familiarity with them, indicating experience rather than a one-off occurrence.
• What does Gerald's attraction to Eva reveal about his feelings?


  It reveals that he only cared about Eva because of his own lustful desires.
• How does Priestley use aposiopesis in Gerald's speech about Eva?


  It reveals that Gerald's attraction to Eva is primarily physical.
• How does Gerald perceive the cruelty of the upper-classes?


  He is conscious of it but shows no desire to change society.
• What moral crossroads is Gerald presented with?


  He can either fight against the class system or continue to use it to his advantage.
• How does Gerald view his own moral compass?


  He possesses a conscience but fails to follow it.
• How does Gerald perceive his public image?


  He is prepared to help Eva in private but maintains an image of an honest and respectable upper-class man publicly.
• How does Gerald's desire to maintain privilege affect his actions?


  He needs to maintain the systemic immorality of the class system even if he disagrees with it.
• How does Gerald differ from the Birling parents in terms of social awareness?


  Gerald can recognize the flaws of the class system, unlike Mr. and Mrs. Birling.
• How is Gerald portrayed in relation to the younger generation?


  He is caught between the older and younger generations, forming a middle-generation.
• How does Gerald's flexibility compare to Sheila and Eric's?


  Gerald is less flexible and less impressionable than Sheila and Eric in his convictions.
• How does Gerald respond to his sense of morality?


  He deliberately ignores it and chooses to forget his actions.
• What does Gerald's selective response to injustice reveal?


  He only reacts to the injustice that is visible and obvious to him.
• What is the nature of Gerald's guilt regarding Eva?


  His guilt is short-lived and almost insignificant.
• How does the Inspector view Gerald's response to guilt?


  The Inspector condemns Gerald's unsympathetic response and attempts to prevent it.
• How does Gerald manipulate his conscience?


  He tries to reason and manipulate his conscience to alleviate his responsibility.
• How does Gerald's moral stance manifest?


  He follows a moral stance only when it suits his own needs.
• What does Gerald's lie about his affair reveal about him?


  It shows that he is unrepentant until Sheila finds out.
• What does Gerald's attempt to limit repercussions for himself indicate?


  It indicates that he is self-serving and prioritizes his own comfort.
• How does Gerald view relationships?


  He perceives his relationships as transactions, similar to business dealings.
• What does Priestley convey about money and class through Gerald's character?

  Priestley conveys that money and class corrupt relationships.
• How does Gerald's attitude towards women manifest?

  He is condescending and patronizing towards women, particularly Eva.
• What does the rescue imagery associated with Eva reveal about Gerald?


  It reveals that Gerald's rescue is a façade, as he merely takes her captive rather than truly helping her.