'An Inspector Calls': exploring class and power through Gerald and Eva | English

Starter quiz

In 'An Inspector Calls', what is Gerald relationship to Sheila?

friend

brother

cousin

fiancé ✓

business partner
In 'An Inspector Calls', what is Gerald's full name?

'Gerald Croft' ✓
In 'An Inspector Calls', when Gerald meets Eva she has a different name. What is it?

Daisy Smith

Daisy Renton ✓

Eva Renton

Daisy Birling

Eva Birling
Starting with the first, put the plot points from 'An Inspector Calls' in chronological order. They are all focused on the character of Eva Smith.

1

⇔

Eva Smith is a working-class woman employed at Birling & Co.

2

⇔

She is dismissed by Mr. Birling.

3

⇔

Eva finds work at Milward's but is fired after Sheila complains about her.

4

⇔

She changes her name to Daisy Renton and meets Gerald.

5

⇔

Gerald helps her temporarily but eventually ends the relationship.

6

⇔

Eva falls into poverty and is forced into a life of hardship.

7

⇔

Eva Smith eventually takes her life, leading to the Inspector’s investigation.
Is the answer true or false? Mr. Birling fires Eva Smith for striking for higher wages.

'true' ✓
The stage directions in a play include ...

how to move ✓

dialogue

descriptions of characters ✓

how to deliver lines ✓

the cast members

Exit quiz

In 'An Inspector Calls', Gerald could be considered an ______ narrator.

'unreliable' ✓
In 'An Inspector Calls', what could be considered the primary role of Gerald Croft in the play?

to represent the working class

to challenge the Inspector's views

to represent upper-class privilege ✓

to reveal the flaws in the Birlings' family structure
In 'An Inspector Calls', why might Gerald Croft be considered a character foil to Eva Smith?

Gerald and Eva both come from similar social backgrounds.

Gerald and Eva both challenge societal expectations.

Gerald represents privilege and Eva represents the oppressed. ✓

Gerald and Eva share similar personalities.
Which sentence does not use a comparative conjunction?

However, Gerald’s privilege protects him from consequences.

Eva, on the other hand, faces harsh consequences for her actions.

Contrastingly, Eva represents the working class struggle.

Eva and Gerald represent the opposite ends of the class system. ✓
Is the answer true or false? In 'An Inspector Calls', Gerald acknowledges the power imbalance between himself and Eva.

'false' ✓
In 'An Inspector Calls', how does Gerald Croft's societal position affect his relationship with Eva Smith?

Arguably, he is able to help her equally as a fellow working-class individual.

Arguably, he uses his privilege to control and exploit her. ✓

Arguably, he is unable to help her due to his own financial struggles.

Arguably, he treats her as a close equal without any power imbalance.

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Gerald is established as an “attractive” and “well-bred” man, emphasising his social status.
Gerald presents himself as the hero of his narrative, but this can be challenged.
Priestley uses the character of Eva Smith to represent the working classes as a whole.
Priestley’s choice of name reflects the importance of Eva’s character.
Eva and Gerald could be seen as foils to each other to represent the stark differences in their experiences.

Common misconception

Gerald's actions are based entirely on kindess and he did a good thing in supporting Eva.

Gerald’s actions may seem kind, but they are driven by self-interest and privilege. He offers Eva financial support, but it is not out of pure kindness—he uses his power to control her, ultimately exploiting her for his own benefit.

Keywords

Foreshadow - to hint or suggest something that will happen later in a story
Superficial - something that is only concerned with, or looks at, the outward appearance, not deep or meaningful
Motive - the reason or intention behind a person's actions or behavior
Foil - a character who contrasts with another character
Comparative conjunction - words used to show how two things are similar or different