Gerald

• gerald - " young and fresh and charming "

  • only for his own personal gain
  • predatory
  • " fresh " - connotations of virginity / desired by men at the time
• " young and fresh and charming "
• " everything is alright now sheila, what about the ring"
• " everything is alright now sheila, what about the ring"

  • very quickly dismisses what has happened once he thinks it is all a joke
  • only cares about himself
  • focuses back on the engagement with sheila like at the start of the play
  • cyclical nature - nothing has changed
• " i didn't install her there just so i could make love to her "
• " i didn't install her there just so i could make love to her "

  • sees her as an object
  • dehumanising
  • no true care for her
  • " just" - to exploit her was one of the reasons just not the only one
• " i became one of the most important people in her life "
• " i became one of the most important people in her life "

  • she relied on him and he knew that
  • he pushed her to the side and abandoned her
  • he gets to play the hero
  • seemingly proud of his behaviour
• " she's had a long , exciting and tiring day "
• " she's had a long , exciting and tiring day "

  • describing sheila
  • trying to remove her from the conversation with the inspector
  • men see themselves as in charge and women and fragile
  • scared his affair with Eva might come to light and is trying to protect himself