Gerald Croft - Act 2 Key Quotations

Question 1

Gerald, like the older generation of Birlings, is protective of women and views them as weaker and inferior to men, perhaps emotionally unstable:

Answer 1

“she’s obviously had about as much as she can stand”
- The use of “she” in the presence of Sheila herself exemplifies the need Gerald feels to speak for her, as if she does not have her own opinions and position in society, portraying him as condescending.

Question 2

Gerald once again judges Sheila’s emotions, portraying him as viewing women as inferior (he tries to shelter Sheila by asking her to leave):

Answer 2

“It’s bound to be unpleasant and disturbing.”

Question 3

Gerald judges Sheila’s character as sadistic, exemplifying his lack of maturity, reflecting his uncaring, self-centred upper-class attitudes:

Answer 3

“You’ve been put through it - and now you want to see somebody else put through it.”

Question 4

Gerald looks down on prostitutes; Priestley uses this to criticise his viewpoints, and invoke sympathy for proletariat women who often had no other choice:

Answer 4

• “It’s a favourite haunt of women of the town”
• “I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women”
• These quotes are once again about the gender inequalities of 1912 British society.

Question 5

Gerald felt sympathetic towards Eva, and portrays his affectionate, caring side:

Answer 5

“gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help”

Question 6

Gerald attempts to justify his actions:

Answer 6

• “I didn’t install her there so that I could make love to her” (“install” suggests a tone of emotionlessness, as if Eva was an object, further exemplifying the exploitation of the lower classes by the Bourgeois)
• “I was sorry for her”
• “I didn’t ask for anything in return”

Question 7

Gerald justifies his affection for Daisy:

Answer 7

“she was young and pretty and warm-hearted - and intensely grateful”

Question 8

Gerald views himself as a hero, seeing Eva as disposable, portraying his selfish attitudes:

Answer 8

“I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me”

Question 9

Gerald was opportunistic about the relationship and terminated it when it most suited him:

Answer 9

“I broke it off definitely before I went”

Question 10

Gerald is affected by the events deep inside, perhaps suggesting an alternative caring attitude towards the lower classes:

Answer 10

“I’m rather more - upset - by this business than I probably appear to be”