gerald quotes

• "we're respectable citizens and not criminals"


  aware of his class, sense of superiority
• "i became the most important person in her life"


  arrogance and haughtiness, had daisy 'wrapped around his finger'
• "mrs birling, the inspector knows all that"


  aware of class and feels well known and respected among others
• "don't say anything to the inspector, we can keep it from him"


  deceptive, sly tendency, underestimation of the inspector
• "i did keep a girl last summer, i admitted it"


  unfaithful but unbothered about it
• "everything's alright now, sheila"


  declarative - hasn't changed, trying to change topic of conversation to save face
• "i felt sorry for her"


  double meaning - really sorry or putting on an act?
• "alright. i knew her. let's leave it at that"


  short, abrupt sentences, starting to reveal his panic/guilt
• mr b - "for lower costs and higher prices"

  gerald - "hear hear!"


  young capitalist, acts in likeness of mr birling
• mr b - "she had to go"

  gerald - "you couldn't have done anything else"


  mr birling soon-to-be, buttering up
• mr b - "you're just the son in law i always wanted"


  favoured by mr b due to similarities and class
• sheila - "between us we drove that girl to suicide"

  gerald - "did we? says who?"


  remorseless, doesn't want to take responsibility
• "she was young, pretty and warm hearted"


  only cared about her in the moment, obvious physical attraction