GERALD
Gerald is the upper-class son of the Birling family’s more successful rivals in business, the Croft Family. The family are delighted at his engagement to Sheila. His relationship with Eva is revealed and Gerald tries to suggest he really was just helping a vulnerable young girl. Sheila is having none of it though. At the end, we see Gerald as more intelligent than Birling as he works out the inspector wasn’t real, but he also shows the audience his complete lack of guilt unlike Sheila and Eric.
PIVOTAL MOMENTS
Gerald’s engagement to Sheila. (Act 1)
Gerald’s reaction when the inspector reveals the name, Daisy Renton. (Act 1)
Revelations about Gerald’s affair with Daisy. (Act 2)
Gerald returning to suggest that the inspector wasn’t real after all. (Act 3)
PURPOSE
Priestley uses Gerald to show the privilege and immorality of the upper-classes. Not only does he use Eva, he believes he is doing her a favour. Gerald also allows the audience to see how desperate some were to climb the social classes like Mr Birling. Even after it’s revealed he has been unfaithful, Birling tries to defend Gerald to save the engagement. Priestley also uses Gerald to show women’s place in society at that time.
Sheila seems happy but the audience become aware that the wedding is more like a business deal for Mr Birling, using his daughter to bring Gerald into the family and therefore improve the family’s name.
STRETCH VOCAB
Privileged
Philandering
Infidelity
Opportunistic
Aristocratic
Elite
Hypocritical
Heir
Liminal
Specious
Ambiguous
Key Quotation Analysis
LINKS WITH OTHER CHARACTERS
MR BIRLING
Mr Birling cannot get enough of Gerald. The self-made Birling looks up to Gerald who was born into wealth and is part of the upper class. It’s clear he would rather spend time with Gerald than his own son.
MRS BIRLING
Mrs Birling is her husband’s “social superior” so perhaps isn’t as impressed with Gerald’s background as her husband. Nevertheless she seems happy that her daughter has finally found a man.
SHEILA
Sheila just want to make her fairy-tale prince happy at start. It’s the ring he wanted her to have, not the other way round. After the revelations of his affair she admires his honesty but handing back the ring is the moment we see Sheila take some power back in their relationship.
ERIC
Eric appears to be too immature to respect his sister’s engagement at the start, making silly comments. It’s no doubt not helped that Gerald is a threat and rival for his father’s love and approval which is what he so badly wants.
INSPECTOR GOOLE
Inspector Goole doesn’t show the kindness to Gerald he shows Sheila or Eric. Equally he doesn’t become as aggressive to him as towards the parents. Perhaps showing Gerald’s position as in the middle of the two generations.