Gerald Croft Flashcards
(18 cards)
FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT1)
‘Don’t say anything…
…to the Inspector… we can keep it from him’
FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 3)
‘That makes…
…all the difference’
FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 3)
‘(smiling) I could…
…just do with one now’
FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 2)
‘I didn’t…
…install her there so that I could make love to her’
FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 2)
‘It’s a favourite…
…haunt of women of the town’
FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 1)
‘I don’t come…
…into this suicide business’
ACT 1: ‘Don’t say anything to the inspector… we can keep it from him’
- his secrecy shows his desire to control the situation & protect his own reputation.
- Suggests manipulation & dishonesty, contrasting with the Inspector’s quest for truth.
- Reveals his privileged position; he believes he can hide the truth because of his social status & influence.
- Highlights power dynamics; Gerald tries to maintain power over information & others.
- Priestley uses this to expose the corruption & hypocrisy of the upper class.
ACT 1: ‘I don’t come into this suicide business’
- Gerald’s refusal to accept responsibility shows his denial & desire to distance himself from the consequences
- Language (‘suicide business’) is blunt & dismissive, revealing a lack of empathy for Eva/Daisy.
- Highlights Gerald’s attempt to protect his social image & avoid scandal.
- Shows the class divide; he views Eva’s death as someone else’s problem, not his own.
- Priestley exposes Gerald’s moral weakness & critique of upper-class selfishness.
FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 1)
‘We’re respectable…
…citizens, not criminals’
ACT 1: ‘We’re respectable citizens, not criminals’
- Gerald links respectability with morality, assuming social class = innocence.
- Reveals entitlement; he thinks their status should place them above blame.
- Irony: they are guilty of morally wrong actions, even if not legally criminal.
- Shows how the upper class hides behind appearances & avoids accountability.
- Priestley critiques this mindset, urging the audience to see through class-based excuses.
ACT 2: ‘It’s a favourite haunt of women of the town’
- Euphemism for sex workers shows Gerald’s awareness of the setting, but he tries to sound polite; tone of upper-class delicacy.
- Suggests class & gender judgment — he distances himself morally, despite being involved.
- Reveals hypocrisy: he uses this knowledge yet criticises those women.
- Shows power imbalance — Gerald feels entitled to judge & exploit working-class women.
- Priestley critiques how upper-class men treat vulnerable women as disposable.
ACT 2: ‘I didn’t install her there so that I could make love to her’
- Verb ‘install’ objectifies Daisy — shows power imbalance & patronising attitude.
- Gerald tries to defend his intentions, but his language shows a lack of awareness of emotional exploitation.
- Reflects how upper-class men justify their behaviour with ‘kindness’
- Blurs line between charity & control; he did benefit emotionally/physically, even if he denies it.
- Priestley highlights the dangers of unequal relationships & the need for self-awareness and responsibility.
FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 2)
‘I became at…
…once the most important person in her life’
ACT 2: ‘I became at once the most important person in her life’
- Self-important tone shows Gerald’s inflated sense of value; sees himself as her saviour.
- Implies emotional control over Daisy, reflecting a deep power imbalance.
- Links to class privilege — he believes offering help makes him morally superior.
- Priestley critiques how upper-class men can exploit dependency and feel justified.
- Reflects gender dynamics, where male authority is rarely questioned.
ACT 3: ‘That makes all the difference’
- Self-satisfied tone shows Gerald’s relief; not because of guilt, but because they won’t face consequences.
- Suggests he views the whole event as something to cover up, not learn from — shows lack of moral growth.
- Priestley critiques how the upper class dismiss social responsibility when reputation isn’t at risk.
- Reveals Gerald (like the older generation) only cares when being watched; more focused on how he appears than doing what’s actually right.
- Priestley exposes this performative morality, where doing good depends on whether there are consequences.
ACT 3: ‘(smiling) I could just do with one now’
- Gerald’s smile & casual tone show nervousness + a desire to relieve tension after the stressful events.
- Reveals his attempt to maintain control & keep up appearances despite underlying guilt.
- Suggests a reliance on comfort/distraction rather than confronting problems seriously.
- Highlights the theme of avoiding responsibility & superficial coping.
- Priestley uses this to critique how some characters refuse to genuinely change/ face consequences.
FINISH THE QUOTE (ACT 3)
‘Everything’s all right…
…now, Sheila. (holds up the ring) What about this ring?’
ACT 3: ‘Everything’s all right now, Sheila. (Holds up the ring) What about this ring?’
- Gerald’s calm, reassuring tone & gesture suggest he’s trying to quickly restore normality after being exposed for being unfaithful to Sheila.
- The ring symbolises commitment, but here it feels like a superficial fix, downplaying the damage caused by his betrayal.
- Reflects denial & the desire to maintain social appearances over true change.
- Shows how upper-class characters often prioritise reputation & relationships rather than moral responsibility.
- Priestley uses this to highlight the lack of genuine growth & the fragility of social facades.
