Gerald Croft

Role

• Upper-class businessman.

• Represents privilege and hypocrisy.

• Shows some genuine compassion towards Eva.

• However, ultimately returns to his old social world.

Key ideas

• Class.

• Gender.

• Power.

• Sexual exploitation.

• Reputation.

Versatile quotes

“I didn’t ask for it”

• Defensive.

• Attempts to distance himself from responsibility.

• Shows limitations of his moral development.

“She was young and pretty and warm-hearted”

• Objectifies Eva through physical/emotional description.

• Shows attraction and sympathy existing alongside unequal power.

“Everything’s all right now, Sheila.”

• Wants to restore normality.

• Suggests he hasn’t fully understood the lesson.

• Contrasts with Sheila’s continued concern.

“We’ve been had, haven’t we?”

• Focuses on whether the Inspector was genuine.

• Shows concern shifting back toward the family’s comfort.

• “we” is ironic: he means the privileged group, not society.