Gerald Croft is portrayed as a complex character in "An Inspector Calls", representing the upper-class society of Edwardian England. His actions and attitudes reflect the social norms and class divisions of the time, while also serving as a critique of these very structures.
- Gerald's character embodies the privileged upper class, showcasing both its power and its moral failings.
- His relationship with Eva Smith/Daisy Renton highlights the exploitation of working-class women by wealthy men.
- Priestley uses Gerald to illustrate the need for social responsibility and the consequences of selfishness.
- The character's attempts to justify his actions reveal the hypocrisy and self-preservation instincts of his class.
- Gerald's lack of genuine change by the play's end underscores Priestley's message about the resistance to social progress.
