Gerald
Priestley presents the idea of Gerald’s
judgmental and prejudiced view of the
working classes
Conceptually speaking, Priestley wishes to
show us…
The generalising and disrespectful view of
Edwardian male elites
Perhaps…the word ‘hate’ implies an
irrational level of prejudice.
This is evident in Priestley’s use of the Because…
unpleasant adjectives
This highlights his superficial attitude
towards women, as he focuses upon
appearance
I hate those hard-eyed, dough-faced Because…
women
working class women’s faces are described
as repulsively hideous.
It might… It could…
show how he dismisses and objectifies highlight his snobbery as he has no empathy
working class women with the living standards of the Edwardian
working class which lead to a worn
appearance and ill health
Gerald

Priestley presents the idea of a Gerald’s This is evident in Priestley’s use of the This is effective because...
ignorance of the consequences of entering mechanical verb the verb install is typically associated with
into a relationship that he never intended to handling objects
last.

Conceptually speaking, Priestley wishes to I didn’t install her there so I could make Because…
show us… love to her This phrase clearly objectifies and
dehumanises Daisy.
That despite seemingly noble and chivalrous
intentions, members of the upper classes fail
to recognise the damaging way in which
they wield their privilege.

Perhaps… It might… It could…

Gerald appears presumptuous and This shows how the elites viewed working Show how his language here turns her into
controlling – Daisy appears to have little class women as commodities an item to be used at his leisure
freedom or agency here
Gerald

Priestley presents the idea of Gerald being a This is evident in Priestley’s use of This is effective because...
character who is briefly influenced by Goole, fragmented syntax this self-assured Edwardian elite cannot
before retreating to his old ways. sustain his usual composure

Conceptually speaking, Priestley wishes to I’ll just go out – walk about – for a while, if Because…
show us… you don’t mind …this highlights his strained emotion here.

That men like Gerald are too invested in the

status quo to accept challenges to this
system

Perhaps… It might… It could…

Despite a moment which indicates Gerald …show how Gerald’s composed façade …suggest Priestley wishes to characterise
has a sense of morality, Gerald loses the cracks, highlighting the power of the Gerald as genuinely distressed at the news
audience’s sympathy as he goes on to Inspector’s questioning of Daisy’s suicide
undermine Goole’s message
Gerald

Priestley uses Gerald to condemn the abuse of women by wealthy capitalist men. This is evident when Gerald rescues Eva from Alderman Meggarty who had ‘wedged’ her into a corner in the bar with his ‘obscene fat carcass’. The verb 'wedged'
is suggestive of force, highlighting how he corners Eva, emphasising her vulnerability. Describing his body metaphorically as a ‘carcass’ associates Meggarty with death and decay, symbolising that behind the wealthy exterior of high society lurk
grim and morally atavistic impulses. Gerald’s language is so emphatic it almost comically dehumanises this ostensibly respectable capitalist elite figure, making him seem repulsive and monstrous. Priestley uses Gerald at this point to vocalise his
own disgust at the loathsome abuse of power of the capitalist elite against the vulnerable and marginalised working class women. Perhaps the most dreadful and shocking aspect of these words of Gerald for the audience is how quickly he forgets
them by the end of the play, showing how deeply capitalism is ingrained into the psyche of those who get used to its wealth and privilege. Overall, Priestley uses Gerald as a didactic tool to force the audience to reflect on how quickly as humans we
can forget even the most transforming moral epiphanies and revert back to selfishness and greed.