In Act  One Gerald tells Mr Birling that: “we’d have done the same thing” with respects to firing Eva. To what extent is Gerald representative of Upper class values in An Inspector Calls?

• Contrast in character – he is not as harsh as mr and Mr B but certainly not as empathetic as S+E  (first reactions)

Gerald “startled – What?” goes and get drink composing – self preservation/ sneakily suggests Sheila should leave

• “My God…distressed…I’ve suddenly realised…that she’s dead  - there is a reaction , stilted.
• “He’s a notorious womanizer  as well as being one of the wrost sots and rogues in Brumley”
• “she was desperately hard up and…hungry. I made the people at the Country find some food for her”.]

On being asked about her becoming his mistress: “Yes. I suppose it was inevitable.” (he is not entirely transparent as a character and neither are his morals.

Sheila: “don’t lets start dodging and pretending now. Between us we drove that girl to commit suicide.”

Gerald: “Everything’s all right Sheila what about this ring?” – not progressive, true to the Upper class who wish for society to stay stagnant so that they can stay on top and enjoy their indiscretions but not suffer for it.

In Act  One Gerald tells Mr Birling that: “we’d have done the same thing” with respects to firing Eva. To what extent is Gerald representative of Upper class values in An Inspector Calls?

Gerald Croft is the most prestigious member of the cast in Priestley’s: ‘An Inspector Calls’. This is due to his firm Upper Class social status. The play revolves around the idea of class and what the class system has done to society, namely Priestley aims to show that the class system divides and hurts the working class, indeed it kills them as is the case brought to the Birling’s home by Inspector Goole. The key question that is explored throughout the play is to what extent Gerald and the Birlings are responsible for the death of Eva Smith, and indeed to what extent the upper and middle classes must take in the lives (and deaths) of those lower in the class system.

Initially on hearing of Eva’s death (not Daisy’s) Gerald sides with Mr Birling’s ‘discharging’ of Eva when she requested a small wage rise, he assures Mr Birling: “we’d have done the same thing”. Already this sets Gerald apart from Sheila and Eric, who have expressed disgust at their father’s cold reaction to an attempt by the working class for equality (well certainly a little more equality in the form of a small wage rise). By standing with Mr Birling, Gerald at this point is certainly representative of upper class values as they dominate business, wealth and therefore society. Dominate being the key idea.

Furthermore as the play continues to unfold, and Gerald realises Eva actually is Daisy, his mistress, his initial reaction is simply that he is “startled “ and asks “ What?”. He then promptly goes to get a drink to soothe himself and tries to gain Sheila’s exit from the room. This initial reaction further shows Gerald representing upper class values as he demonstrates his ability and desire for self preservation. Unlike Sheila and Eric’s initial reactions on hearing of the girl’s death which were reactions of horror, shock and displayed their empathy – Gerald wishes to protect himself by drinking, and also to protect his relationship with Sheila (which we know to be beneficial in the business sense). Gerald’s selfishness here is representative of Upper Class values (well certainly the Upper class values that Priestley presents in his play). Furthermore the fact that he verbally initially responds by asking a question instead of making a statement (as the others do) shows his inability to comprehend the gravity of the situation. By using a question he is preventing himself from processing the information and instead throws it back to the inspector.

However we cannot accuse Gerald of entirely being a negative character. He is not entirely unfeeling. Indeed when he meets Daisy, he does not initially use her but instead nourishes her: “she was desperately hard up and…hungry. I made the people at the Country find some food for her”. Whatever his long term agenda was, he did initially help and care for Daisy. This shows his ability to care, protect and nurture. Although it is questionable to what extent as he does later admit that he supposed “it was inevitable.” That she would become his mistress. However he also at one point does set himself apart from some upper class values, that of simply taking what you want and abusing your power. This is shown when he passes harsh judgment on a fellow upper class male as he informs the group of a prominent senior upper class that: “He’s a notorious womanizer  as well as being one of the worst sots and rogues in Brumley”. The word choice of notorious has suggestions of being extremely well known but in a negative sense, of being not highly thought of, in fact quite the opposite and of being involved in indiscretions. Gerald’s choice of language to describe his fellow upper class male shows he is aware and is not in entire approval of the reputations and seedy deeds that some perform at the expense of others. Also Gerald does have a heart and one that cares for someone of a lower class which is not a values of the upper class who believe in keeping money within money. Although it is delayed, he does finally show emotions for the loss of Daisy, his former mistress: “My God…distressed…I’ve suddenly realised…that she’s dead  - there is a reaction , although stilted.

 

However Gerald ultimately himself has indiscretions, but he does…