Gerald

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How does Priestley use Gerald? (tool)

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1

How does Priestley use Gerald? (tool)

He is Priestley's tool to reveal the flaws of the upper classes

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2

Who does Gerald represent?

He represents the aristocracy who in 1912 exploited the working class - especially working class women like Eva Smith

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3

How does Gerald appear to be for a moment and what does it provide? (2)

  • He appears to be sorry for his behaviour towards Eva - - This provides hope that the upper class can change and embrace Priestley's message of social responsibility

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4

What does Gerald do at the end of the play - how does Priestley use this? (2)

  • He once again aligns himself with Mr Birlings capitalist ideas

  • Reinforces Priestley's view that the upper class will be self-interested and never change

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5

How is Gerald described in the introductory stage directions? (quote)

"easy, well-bred young man-about-town"

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6

What kind of phrase is "easy, well-bred, young" and what does it establish about the character Gerald?

  • It is a tripartite phrase

  • It establishes him as a member of the privileged elite class - used to a life of pleasure

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7

What can be said about the word "young" in the quote "easy, well-bred young man-about-town"? What 2 things may it suggest? (3)

  • It is surprising that the word "young" is used as he described as "an attractive chap about thirty"

  • Priestley may be suggesting that his attitude to life is immature and thoughtless: foreshadows his irresponsible behaviour towards Eva and Sheila

  • Also, it raises false hope that he will learn from his mistake like the younger Birlings - Shelia and Eric

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8

What does the phrase "man-about-town" in the quote "easy, well-bred young man-about-town" imply?

  • The phrase makes him appear as a fashionable socialite - implies experience in the ways of the world

  • Also, it implies vanity: he prioritises himself (his appearances and sexual needs) over helping others; foreshadows how he used Eva smith to satisfy his need until discarding her when the relationship was no longer convenient

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9

What would the 1946 London audience have likely contained?

Men like Gerald

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10

How does the introductory stage direction "easy, well-bred young man-about-town" set up the character Gerald to the audience?

It sets Gerald up as a character as that the audience wile will engage, sympathise with and finally condemn

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11

How does Priestley confirm Gerald's role as a member of the Upper Class?

It is made known that the Gerald's parents Lord and Lady croft are unable to attend the engagement party

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12

What does the audience initially assume about the Gerald intentions with marrying Sheila?

That he is marrying her for love

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13

Why is he really marrying Sheila? (3 + quote)

  • We can assume that as the son of a successful businessman and aristocrat that there are business opportunities with Crofts limited and Birling & Co

  • Mr Birling references this in his engagement speech and Gerald agrees - "Hear, Hear!"

  • Gerald has business-focused reasons for marriage, he is deceitful to Sheila and he prioritises business over love

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14

How does Gerald ally himself with Mr Birling?

  • Like Mr Birling he initially denies knowing Eva Smith displaying a dismissive attitude when saying "I don't come into this suicide business"

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15

What can be said about the phrase "suicide business" from the quote" I don't come into this suicide business"?

  • That it is a cold-hearted and unexpected response

  • Suicide is not a business in the same sense that Crofts Limited is

  • However, "business" can mean a difficult matter or scandalous event

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16

How does the statement "I don't come into this suicide business" position Gerald?

  • The pronoun "I" immediately dissociated Gerald from the situation at hand

  • It immediately dissociates him and positions him as superior: implying that others are responsible for his death

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17

How does Priestley use the quote "[startled]: What?" to position Gerald? (4)

  • We stark difference is his reaction when he hears Eva Smith and Daisy Renton

  • He is "[startled]" - he can no long shift the blame to others but he must now own up to his mistakes and embrace the overarching message of social responsibility

  • The upper middle class he represents must now face the consequences and repercussions of his behaviour: his mistreatment towards the working class

  • The audience begin to question and wonder about Gerald and because they have witnessed his incessant smug self-confidence they are set up to enjoy his discomfort in his pending interrogation

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18

Describe how Gerald is similar to Eric? (palace bar)(5)

  • They both consider the women that frequent the palace bar only in terms of their appearance

  • He criticises their "dough faces" and "hard eyes" - revealing that commodification of women is normal to him

  • His complimentary description of Eva Smith's "big dark eyes" reveals an attitude of objectification

  • He considers women in the bar as if he is choosing items in a shop

  • He does not think of her as a person but rather as something to enjoy

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19

When Inspector Goole uncovers Gerald's affair with Eva how is he presented?

Gerald appears to be upset by her death

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20

What does Priestley focus the audience's attention on when Gerald gives his report after ending the affair? (3)

  • With his report after ending the affair "she didn't blame me at all. I wish she had now" Priestley focuses the attention of the audience on what appears to be genuine remorse and self-blame

  • The audience feels some sympathy towards Gerald and believes that he will align himself with the Inspector's views on social responsibility

  • This is particularly exciting as he is a member of a higher class that wields power and possesses many social contacts in higher echelons of society

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21

Why does the audience change their opinion of Gerald in Act 3?

Because he does everything he can to prove the Inspector is fake.

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22

What does the audience realise about Gerald in Act 3? (2)

  • That he has learnt nothing at all unlike Sheila and Eric

  • He is reflects the behaviour of Mr and Mrs Birling: he wants to avoid a public scandal and wishes to protect himself and his wealth

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23

What particular instance does Priestley set up the audience to condemn Gerald? (2)

  • When he offers Sheila the engagement ring "Everything's all right now" the audience learns he has learnt absolutely nothing

  • even if Eva did not exist he refuses to reflect upon his treatment of Daisy Renton and to become a better person

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24

What can we conclude about Gerald's character as a whole? (3)

  • For a moment, Priestley encourages the audience to sympathise with Gerald in hopes that he - and the aristocracy he represents - becomes a better person

  • When this fails to happen, the disappointed audience condemn him, his attitude towards Eva and towards vulnerable members of society

  • Through Gerald, Priestley presents the aristocracy as self-interested people who instead of sharing their wealth they are more likely to follow family tradition: preserving it for the next generation

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