3.5.2
Gerald Quotes
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Gerald - Key Quote (Act 1)
‘I think my father would agree to that, too.’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 1:
Capitalist
- Gerald shows how similar his family’s beliefs are to the Birlings’ beliefs that the upper-class business owners should have lower costs and higher prices.
- Of course, the actual workers would see none of this increased profit.
- This presents Gerald as an entitled (feels he deserves special treatment), wealthy, upper-class man with no social responsibility – he agrees with the capitalist ideals, as does his father.
Villain
- This also shows the audience that Gerald is on the villainous side of the story at the start – he does not care about individuals.
Gerald - Key Quote (Act 2)
‘I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me.’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 2:
Selfish upper class
- Gerald openly admits that he did not really have feelings for Eva, but used her for a sexual relationship and kept her as his mistress (woman who has a sexual relationship with a married man).
- Priestley does this to show how upper-class people would take what they wanted, regardless of the impact on others, or the emotional toil (strain) it could take.
Remorseless and vain
- Gerald does not regret his actions, or truly feel sorry for how he treated Eva.
- Instead, he sees himself as heroic because he rescued Eva and gave her money.
Gerald - Key Quote (Act 3)
‘What about this ring?’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 3:
Learns nothing
- Even though Sheila changes dramatically in the play, and breaks her engagement to Gerald because she feels that she does not know him, Gerald proves that he has not changed at all by the end.
- He offers Sheila the engagement ring back, suggesting that he wants to forget about everything that happened (the affair) and go on with their lives as normal.
- He expects Sheila to agree and pretend that the whole ordeal (unpleasant experience) with Inspector Goole has not happened.
- This also proves that he has not learnt anything from the story.
1Plot Summary
2Context & Key Themes
2.1Context & Key Themes
2.1.1Social Class & Equality2.1.2Class Tension2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism2.1.5Blame & Responsibility2.1.6Attitudes to Women2.1.7Characterisation of Women2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 22.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes2.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Socialism vs Communism2.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Edna2.1.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Women in the Play2.1.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Eva Smith
3Key Characters
3.1Mr Birling
3.2Mrs Birling
3.6Inspector Goole
3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Authorial Method
5Recap: Main Quotes
5.1Mr Birling Quotes
5.2Mrs Birling Quotes
5.6Inspector Goole Quotes
Jump to other topics
1Plot Summary
2Context & Key Themes
2.1Context & Key Themes
2.1.1Social Class & Equality2.1.2Class Tension2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism2.1.5Blame & Responsibility2.1.6Attitudes to Women2.1.7Characterisation of Women2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 22.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes2.1.12Diagnostic Misconceptions - Socialism vs Communism2.1.13Diagnostic Misconceptions - Edna2.1.14Diagnostic Misconceptions - Women in the Play2.1.15Diagnostic Misconceptions - Eva Smith
3Key Characters
3.1Mr Birling
3.2Mrs Birling
3.6Inspector Goole
3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Authorial Method
5Recap: Main Quotes
5.1Mr Birling Quotes
5.2Mrs Birling Quotes
5.6Inspector Goole Quotes
Practice questions on Gerald Quotes
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