Gerald analysis

• Introduction

  Gerald is Priestlys tool to represent the flaws of the upper class. He represents aristocracy who in 1912 exploited working class women like Eva Smith. He appears to be sorry at one point, providing hope that the upper class can change but at the end of the play aligns with the capitalist views, Priestly way of showing upper class will always be self interested amd never change.
• ‘Young man’ ‘about thirty’

  Clashing descriptions from the start reflect his immature treatment of Eva and Sheila.
• (Nodding confidentially to Birling) 


  Shows how similar he is to Birling. Adverb ‘confidentially‘ shows only something they know about - wants Birling to like and respect him
• ‘Well bred young man about town’

  Idiomatic phrase implies he is fashionable and well respected.

  Plural connotations - may be foreshadowing his unfaithful nature.

  Rule of three conveys he is upper class and elite.

  Connotes vanity and prioritising himself over others - foreshadows using daisy to satisfy sexual needs before discarding when no longer convenient.

  ‘Young man’ provides hope he will change - generational divide
• ‘All last summer’

  Lies about summer when he wasn’t with Shelia

  Shows it was normal for men to have affairs in 1920s

  confirms to audience he is marrying for business not love
• ‘you couldn’t have done anything else’

  views align with older gen that sacking eva was right thing to do - knowing consequences

  exploits privileges and basic human rights of lower class - reflects capitalist views

  pronoun ‘anything‘ shows capitalists won’t consider anything else that doesn’t align with views
• ‘women of the town’

  euphemism shows he uses prostitutes and exploited Eva
• ‘I don’t come into this suicide business’

  Dismissive attitude

  Euphemism shows lack of connection and guilt by making more trivial - cold hearted

  Positions Gerald as thinking he is superior - others responsibility
• Attitude changes after hearing Eva described as ‘Daisy Renton‘

  • positions audience to enjoy his discomfort after seeing smug self interest
  • Shows the self interested capitalist values
• ‘I’d like to have a look at that photograph now inspector‘

  command ‘now’ shows trying to regain control he is used to because of his class
• ‘dough faces‘ ‘hard eyes’

  considers women who frequent bar in physical appearance and judges them

  shows the commodification of women is normal for him
• description of Eva

  ‘Big dark eyes’ ‘pretty-soft brown hair’ - innocent and child Like, objectifies, describes her to satisfy his lustful desires, sees her as something to enjoy - not a person

  ‘Young and fresh’ - predatory, ‘fresh’ - object for sex

  ‘nothing less than a cry for help’ - stereotypical + thinks himself a hero
• ‘she knew it couldn't last’

  shows difference between social classes and how relationship wouldn’t have lasted and been suitable

  shows how Gerald manipulated and controlled her

  foreshadow control over Sheila
• ‘she didn’t blame me at all. I wish to God she had now’

  Priestly shows him as only upset by death when she had a connection to him

  appears to be genuine remorse and self blame

  makes audience feel some sympathy towards his character and believe he will align with Inspectors teachings

  exciting as he is part of class that holds monumental power
• Manipulation of sheila


  ‘Yes we can keep it from him’ - naive, believes he can outsmart Inspector

  ’she’s obviously had about as much as she can stand’ - trying to gain control over Sheila and Inspector, enforces gender divide
• ‘There’s no more real evidence we did than there was that that chap was a real inspector’ 


  Immediately stops regretting what he did and changing back to old ways as soon as he finds out inspector wasn’t real

  aligns with older generation - does not accept responsibility

  Only cares that there is no public scandal - image and business

  Makes up elaborate story - extensive

  Feels no guilt / remorse - demonstrates how older gen are less likely to change