Lesson 12 - Gerald Croft

An Inspector
Calls
J.B. Priestley
LESSON 12 REMOTE LEARNING
Gerald Croft
Read Sheila Birling’s speech. Answer each of the questions to analyse Gerald’s
Do Now
function.
It means that we’ve no excuses now for putting on airs and that if we’ve any
sense we won’t try. Father threw this girl out because she asked for decent
wages. I went and pushed her farther out, right into the street, just because I
was angry and she was pretty. Gerald set her up as his mistress and then
dropped her when it suited him. And now you’re pretending you don’t
recognise her from that photograph. I admit I don’t know why you should, but I
know jolly well you did in fact recognise her, from the way you looked. And if
you’re not telling the truth, why should the Inspector apologise? And can’t you
see, both of you, you’re making it worse?
How does Sheila’s speech sum up the importance of social responsibility?
Gerald isn’t related by blood to the Birlings: but is he as much to blame?
How is Gerald similar but also different to Eric and his involvement with
Daisy? Why has Sheila’s attitude changed towards her fiancé?
Upper class Edwardian hypocrisy
New Concepts Insolence
Driving Question: How does Gerald’s connection with Daisy impact

him?
Success Criteria:
To summarise Gerald’s involvement in Daisy Renton’s life in Act 2 of

the play.
To be able to explain why Priestley includes Gerald’s change in

attitude between Acts 1 & 2.
To examine how Priestley presents the concepts of hypocrisy,

infidelity, patriarchy and deception through Gerald’s character.
Key words: Hypocrisy, infidelity, patriarchy, exploitation, immorality, façade, deception, secrecy, exclusion
Gerald Croft: Act 1 vs. Act 2 and Hypocrisy
ACT 1: A representative of ACT 2: An immoral usurper?

Edwardian Britain? Accepts social responsibility?
• Wants to marry Sheila: engaged • Gives hope to Daisy Renton by

renting out friend’s flat
• “Cosying up” to Arthur: a sign of
status, respect but also business • Lost engagement and
and financial profit gained relationship with Sheila –
though simultaneously gains her
• Believes that women should be respect and admiration
protected: deeply ironic
• Seen to objectify women for
their looks and appearances
Men in the Edwardian Era
Priestley uses Gerald to demonstrate that Edwardian gentlemen were capable of

immoral behaviour. He reveals these individuals often wore a public façade which
presented them as respectful and virtuous; however, privately, they exploited (quite
deliberately) the lower and working-classes for their own financial and status gains.
The setting of the play showcases patriarchal society where women were often
conditioned to accept infidelity often in favour of status and the security that men
provided.
Gerald therefore also highlights capitalism in the same way as Birling does, but also
conveys its wrongdoings and the hypocrisy of upper-class Edwardian life.
Is Gerald insincere and a hypocrite?
Gerald: (smiling) I insist upon being one of

the family now. I’ve been trying long 1. How is Gerald painted as a stereotypical
enough, haven’t I? (as she does not reply, stock Edwardian upper class man here (almost
with more insistence.) Haven’t I? You know mirroring Arthur Birling for a reason)?
I have.
2. How does Gerald’s hypocritical treatment of
Inspector: And you think young women his fiancé make his later actions in Act 2
ought to be protected against unpleasant and appear more shocking?
disturbing things?
Gerald: If possible – yes. 3. How does the Inspector deliberate use a

euphemistic rhetorical question targeted to
Inspector: Well, we know one young Gerald to incriminate him?
women who wasn’t, don’t we?
The “Male Gaze”
This suggests a sexualised way of looking that empowers men

and objectifies women. In the male gaze, woman is visually
positioned as an “object” of heterosexual male desire. Her
feelings, thoughts and her own sexual drives are less important
than her being “framed” by male desire.
*Also key when referencing the appeal of others: Eric/Arthur/Sheila’s jealousy.*
A key idea of feminist film theory, the concept of the male gaze was
introduced by scholar and filmmaker Laura Mulvey in her now famous 1975
essay, Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.
https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-does-the-male-ga
ze-mean-and-what-about-a-female-gaze-52486
Why the focus on looks?
Inspector describes Eva as ‘not pretty’ after the death but alive she had been ‘very pretty’.
Birling describes her as a ‘good looking girl’.
Gerald refers to Eva Smith (Daisy Renton) as ‘pretty’ – ‘soft brown hair and big dark eyes’
Eric describes her as ‘pretty’ and a ‘good sport’.
Priestley may also be seeking to pit his tragic heroine against the ugliness of the capitalist
world, and a heartless class-led society.
Sheila is also described as being ‘pretty’ in stage notes. There are several links between the
two women, and this one strengthens Sheila’s empathy, and how in different
circumstances, it could have been her.
Gerald is described as ‘attractive’ in the stage notes. Perhaps Gerald is an ‘attractive’ option
at first to three people for different reasons: – Mr Birling, Sheila and then Eva/Daisy.

The “Male Gaze”
1. How is the “male gaze” employed here? Is

this Gerald’s fault or is he just a product of his
gender?
2. When Gerald first sees Daisy, he only

discusses her physical features. What does this
reflect about his character? Does he do more
harm than good in ‘trying’ to help?
https://www.bl.uk/sisterhood/articles/feminist-visual-arts
(See ‘Challenging the Male Gaze’)
Is Gerald more socially responsible than he is given credit for?
1. What do these quotes tell us about 1. How does Sheila’s eventual regard for
their feelings for one another? Gerald reflect Priestley’s intentions?
2. How is Gerald’s hypocrisy towards his 2. How do her final remarks mirror
social position presented? changes in Britain?
Summarising Gerald’s character
”Gerald is the true character who causes

Daisy’s tragic downfall towards suicide.
Before this, she had the ability to get her

life ‘back on track’ despite set backs.”
Listen to the podcast to add to your existing views.
https://mrbruff.podbean.com/page/2/

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An Inspector

How does Sheila’s speech sum up the importance of social responsibility?

Gerald isn’t related by blood to the Birlings: but is he as much to blame?

Driving Question: How does Gerald’s connection with Daisy impact

To summarise Gerald’s involvement in Daisy Renton’s life in Act 2 of

To be able to explain why Priestley includes Gerald’s change in

To examine how Priestley presents the concepts of hypocrisy,

ACT 1: A representative of ACT 2: An immoral usurper?

• Wants to marry Sheila: engaged • Gives hope to Daisy Renton by

Priestley uses Gerald to demonstrate that Edwardian gentlemen were capable of

Gerald: (smiling) I insist upon being one of

Gerald: If possible – yes. 3. How does the Inspector deliberate use a

This suggests a sexualised way of looking that empowers men

Also key when referencing the appeal of others: Eric/Arthur/Sheila’s jealousy.

1. How is the “male gaze” employed here? Is

2. When Gerald first sees Daisy, he only

”Gerald is the true character who causes

Before this, she had the ability to get her

Listen to the podcast to add to your existing views.

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