Gerald Croft Character Analysis

Flashcards on Gerald's Character Analysis in 'An Inspector Calls'

"Sorry - I - well, I've suddenly realised - taken it in properly - that she's dead"

Gerald's delayed reaction to Eva's death, marked by stammered speech, indicates suppressed emotion due to societal expectations of masculinity.

"how do we know its the same girl"

Gerald knows Eva is the same person, yet he later suggests that 'there’s still no proof it was really the same girl' to excuse his behavior and convince himself of his innocence.

"Yes I think you were (justified in getting Eva sacked" // "you couldn’t have done anything else"

On the one hand, Gerald’s support for Mr Birling’s convictions, is necessary for Gerald to uphold good relations with his future father-in-law and therefore he aligns himself with Mr Birling’s views. However, it seems more likely that this is Gerald’s legitimate belief as he will inherit the Croft family business and thus is a true capitalist at heart.

"He at least had some affection for her and made her happy for a time"

The Inspector notes that Gerald’s kindness towards Eva separates him from the rest of the characters as he made her happy for a time. Yet, the help that he provided to Eva was in his own interest as he admits that he must have been a “wonderful fairy prince” to Eva.

"[rather too manly to be dandy]"

Suggests he is very much content and confident in his own masculinity.

"[easy well-bred young man-about-town]"

Suggests that Gerald is a fashionable socialite. Alternatively, this phrase could have plural connotations; perhaps, Priestley is foreshadowing the unfaithful nature of Gerald.

"I insisted / I made her take some money"

Priestley’s use of imperatives bears connotations of power and force; Gerald was always in power and in control.

"she was pretty - soft brown hair and big dark eyes - [breaks off] My God!"

Priestley’s use of aposiopesis (abrupt break off in speech) comes directly after Gerald describes her beauty, revealing that Gerald only felt attracted to Eva physically as he feels the greatest grief when remembering her physical beauty.

"A pretty girl in her early twenties" // “Looked young and fresh and charming”

Priestley has already evidenced Gerald’s attraction to youth and appearance through his description of Eva and why he pursued her as she was young and fresh and charming.

"young and fresh and charming and altogether out of place down there"

Priestley incorporates a predatory description of Eva as there are connotations of desire and fertility from the adjective “fresh”, as Gerald views her sexually from the start.

"Women of the town"

Priestley uses euphemistic language to evidence Gerald’s determination to conceal his use of prostitutes.

"I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women"

This opinion of prostitutes is one that can only come from experience, rather than a one off or chance occurrence.

"It wasn't disgusting"

Priestley does this to, perhaps, separate Gerald from the older-generation of characters and their traditional classist views.