Gerald Croft

"[An attractive chap about thirty, rather too manly to be a dandy but very much the easy well-bred young man-about-town]" Stage directions Act 1

"I hope I can make you as happy as you deserve to be" Act 1

[With an effort] "I don't come into this suicide business" Act 1

"All right. I knew her. Let's leave it at that." Act 1

"We're respectable citizens not criminals." Act 1

Summary - Gerald at the start

-Seen as charming and respectable

-Appears devoted to Sheila

-Starts off confident and comfortable, fitting into upper-class ideals

-Early hints of secrecy and guilt

-Priestley sets him up as someone whose image may not matxh really

"She was young and pretty and warm-hearted - and intensely grateful." Act 2

"(distressed) Sorry - I - well, I've suddenly realised - taken it in properly - that she's dead" Act 2

"I became at once the most important person in her life" Act 2

[To Sheila] "I'm sorry, Sheila. But it was all over and done with, last summer" Act 2

Summary - Gerald in the middle:

-Truth comes out about his affair with Eva

-Shown to be ashamed but also self-justifying

-Displays both guilt and privilege

-Tries to hold onto his reputation and relationship with Sheila

-Priestley uses him to expose how upper-class men exploit working - class women. — then expect no real consequences

"He wasn't a real police inspector" Act 3

"Everything's all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?"

"There isn't any such inspector.we've been had" Act 3

[Gerald] "looks crushed" Act 3

Summary - Gerald at the end

-Relieved when the inspector may not be real

-Tries to reset everything with Sheila

-Shows superficial guilt

-Represent the privileged class clinging to reputation

-Priestley uses Gerald to criticise those who ignore moral lessons when they're no longer being watched