Priestley, in the didactic play An Inspector Calls, uses Gerald to explore ideas of responsibility by using
Gerald as a construct for the abusive and manipulative patriarchal Capitalists of the Edwardian era.
Priestley does this to criticise the recklessness and hypocrisy of patriarchal Capitalists, whilst warning
his contemporary audience of the dangers of continuing these Capitalist and patriarchal norms. In
doing so, Priestley aims to promote Socialist values.
Priestley uses Gerald to explore ideas of responsibility by highlighting the recklessness of patriarchal
men. Gerald nonchalantly claims that “it just so happened that a friend of mine…” had the keys to a
nice set of rooms, where Gerald kept Eva Smith during their affair. The ambiguous tone creates the
imagery that Gerald is quite plainly lying or twisting the story, and that he had arranged these rooms in
lieu of his affair with Eva. Priestley has thus presented Gerald as manipulative and cunning, which may
have angered Priestley’s contemporary Christian audience, who would have condemned Gerald’s
infidelity and disloyalty. However, what is shocking is that Gerald seems to get away with his acts
unharmed: both Mr and Mrs Birling seem to disapprove of Gerald’s infidelity, yet neither of them
defend their daughter’s feelings and dignity by cancelling the marriage and condemning Gerald for
what he has done. Priestley has shown through Gerald how flawed patriarchy is at its core, since it
enables men like Gerald to commit moral crimes, such as infidelity, and not face the consequences,
hence these men have, according to Priestley, grown to become irresponsible and reckless. Thus,
Priestley explores ideas of responsibility through Gerald’s reckless nature.
Furthermore, Priestley uses the characters of both Gerald and Alderman Meggharty to explore ideas of
responsibility. This can be seen through the anadiplosis of the name “Gerald” and “Alderman
Meggharty”. The anadiplosis of their names draws attention to the similarities between Gerald and
Meggharty, regarding their social attitudes, lack of moral responsibility and intentions with Eva Smith.
Priestley does this to juxtapose Gerald’s initial description of what happened at the Palace Bar: Gerald
portrayed himself as the hero saving Eva Smith from the predator Alderman Meggharty, which Gerald
did to disguise that both he and Meggharty had the same sexual desires for Eva Smith. By highlighting
Gerald as a construct for the abusive and manipulative patriarchal Capitalists of the Edwardian era.
Priestley does this to criticise the recklessness and hypocrisy of patriarchal Capitalists, whilst warning
his contemporary audience of the dangers of continuing these Capitalist and patriarchal norms. In
doing so, Priestley aims to promote Socialist values.
Priestley uses Gerald to explore ideas of responsibility by highlighting the recklessness of patriarchal
men. Gerald nonchalantly claims that “it just so happened that a friend of mine…” had the keys to a
nice set of rooms, where Gerald kept Eva Smith during their affair. The ambiguous tone creates the
imagery that Gerald is quite plainly lying or twisting the story, and that he had arranged these rooms in
lieu of his affair with Eva. Priestley has thus presented Gerald as manipulative and cunning, which may
have angered Priestley’s contemporary Christian audience, who would have condemned Gerald’s
infidelity and disloyalty. However, what is shocking is that Gerald seems to get away with his acts
unharmed: both Mr and Mrs Birling seem to disapprove of Gerald’s infidelity, yet neither of them
defend their daughter’s feelings and dignity by cancelling the marriage and condemning Gerald for
what he has done. Priestley has shown through Gerald how flawed patriarchy is at its core, since it
enables men like Gerald to commit moral crimes, such as infidelity, and not face the consequences,
hence these men have, according to Priestley, grown to become irresponsible and reckless. Thus,
Priestley explores ideas of responsibility through Gerald’s reckless nature.
Furthermore, Priestley uses the characters of both Gerald and Alderman Meggharty to explore ideas of
responsibility. This can be seen through the anadiplosis of the name “Gerald” and “Alderman
Meggharty”. The anadiplosis of their names draws attention to the similarities between Gerald and
Meggharty, regarding their social attitudes, lack of moral responsibility and intentions with Eva Smith.
Priestley does this to juxtapose Gerald’s initial description of what happened at the Palace Bar: Gerald
portrayed himself as the hero saving Eva Smith from the predator Alderman Meggharty, which Gerald
did to disguise that both he and Meggharty had the same sexual desires for Eva Smith. By highlighting
