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- Act 1 - the stage directions tells us that Gerald is a 'well-bred young man-about-town'
- Act 1 - we get hints of potential friction in the relationship between Gerald and Sheila, as she refers to when he hardly saw her ('half-playful, half-serious) and he responds with an excuse 'I was awfully busy at the works all that time' This perhaps shows that Gerald is hiding something
- Gerald attempts to conceal his relationship with Eva (Daisy) from Sheila, as when he gives himself away, he soon tries to cover it up, saying 'alright. I knew her. Let's leave it at that'
- Although it is apparent that Gerald cares for Sheila, when he is questioned he jumps to a negative assumption about her - 'you've been through it - and now you want to see someone else put through it'. This shows that he lacks empathy, because if he could imagine being in Sheila's situation, he would understand that she must hear the whole story of his affair
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- Gerald is Sheila Birling's fiance, and it's indicated that Mr Birling is happy with this match and is eager to impress Gerald - he speaks about the port to show that despite the slight class difference, the Birlings are on par with the Crofts
- Gerald is important in the play because he had an affair with Eva Smith, who he knew as Daisy Renton. He admits the story in Act 2, and is responsible for Eva's death as he 'broke it off definitely' when it suited him and did not necessarily take into account her feelings through the affair. The Inspector later says that Gerald came out of the night the least guilty: Act 3 - 'he at least had some affection for her and made her happy for a time'
- Gerald is responsible for bringing up the theory that the Inspector was not real - he enters in Act 3 and says to the Birlings 'that man wasn't a police officer'. He then also rings up the infirmary to ask after any recent suicides. This means that he is crucial tot he plot because he provides evidence for the idea that the whole night was a 'joke' and there will therefore be no consequences for the group
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- Does Gerald really change? We hope that he does because he is younger, like Sheila, however he appears to have learned nothing through the play - see below
- Act 1 - Gerald shares Mr Birling's capitalist beliefs about business: 'you couldn't have done anything else' (about Mr Birling throwing out Eva) and 'we'd have done the same thing'
- It appears as though Gerald may be developing a sense of what he has done (guilt) in Act 2 - 'I - well, I've suddenly realised - taken it in properly - that she's dead'. This shows that he is horrified by the thought that Eva has committed suicide
- Gerald then leaves to contemplate the evening alone, with the intention of coming back later. When he does arrive in Act 3, he tells the group 'that man wasn't a police officer' and then proceeds to give evidence of this theory 'the sergeant was dead certain they hadn't any inspector at all like the chap'. This encourages Mr and Mrs Birling
- Gerald does not change: in Act 3 he then says 'everything's all right now, Sheila. (holds up the ring) What about this ring?' - this shows he is prepared or even eager to get things back to how they were before the evening, without considering how Sheila has changed. She recognises this, unlike him, and says 'no it's too soon'. She had earlier told that they are 'different people now'
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- Context in the play: Gerald Croft comes from a wealthy family who, like the Birlings, have a business, although it is 'both older and bigger'. His father has a knighthood, and Mr Birling tells Gerald in Act 1 that his mother (Lady Croft) 'while she doesn't object to my girl - feels you might have done better for yourself socially'
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