Act 2: March 1911 Eva and Gerald Croft

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Act 2- March 1911 Eva and Gerald Croft
Gerald met Eva Smith now Daisy Renton in the
Palace Music Hall bar in March 1911, which was
two months after being fired by Millwards.
The Palace Music Hall bar was a place that
prostitutes came seeking clients.
She was being coerced by Alderman Joe Meggarty
and Gerald had taken pity on her.
Mrs. Birling is shocked that someone like
Alderman Meggarty is not only there but flirting
with girls.
Theres no need to be disgusting. And surely you
dont mean Alderman Meggarty? P. 35
Well, really! Alderman Meggarty! I must say, we
are learning something tonight. P. 35
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Act 2- March 1911 Eva and Gerald Croft
It is clear from Sheila that many in Brumley know
about Meggarty and indeed his appearance with Eva
is not the first time he has done that sort of
thing.
..everybody knows about that horrible old
Meggarty. A girl I know had to see him at the
Town hall one afternoon and she only escaped with
a torn blouse - P. 35
Gerald first gets involved with Eva because he
sees that she is in distress from Meggartys
attentions.
The girl saw me looking at her and then gave me a
glance that was nothing less than a cry for help.
P. 35
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Act 2- March 1911 Eva and Gerald Croft
Gerald may have been sincere in his rescue of Eva
and assisting her with food and drink. However
the meeting has an impact on him. He decides two
days later to meet her.
two nights later we met again - not
accidentally this time of course P. 36
It is during this meeting that Gerald discovers
that Eva is so broke that she is to be thrown out
of her lodgings. He offers to put her up in his
friends flat.
Because he goes out of his way to meet her two
days later, again at the Palace bar, and because
of the speed he offers the flat it is clear he
wants a relationship with her. He denies that was
his reason for doing this.
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Act 2- March 1911 Eva and Gerald Croft
I want you to understand I didnt install her
there so I could make love to her. I made her go
to Morgan Terrace because I was sorry for her and
didnt like the idea of her going back to the
Palace bar.
P. 37
Gerald makes it clear why he was attracted to her
and why he was happy that an affair between them
was bound to happen and indeed why he wanted it
to happen.
She was young and pretty and warm hearted - and
intensely grateful. I became at once the most
important person in her life. P. 37
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Act 2- March 1911 Eva and Gerald Croft
When asked by Sheila whether he loved Eva, he
replies
I didnt feel about her as she felt about me
P. 38
Whereas Gerald did not love Eva, Eva deeply loved
Gerald.
I became at once the most important person in her
life P. 37
The affair with Eva lasted seven months and ended
in September 1911. Gerald used the time he knew
he would be away on business to end the affair
with Eva. Eva had not expected the affair to last
long and was prepared when Gerald decided to tell
her it was over.
However although the affair meant little to
Gerald, it had meant everything to Eva. After it
ended she had to be away on her own to come to
terms with his leaving.
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Act 2- September 1911 Eva and Gerald Croft
She told me shed been happier than shed ever
been before P. 39
She had to leave the flat and, although Gerald
offered her money she did not want to take it but
Gerald insisted.however it was not a great deal
of money he gave her.
The Inspector informs Gerald that Eva went away
on her own to remember the time she had been with
Gerald.
..she said there that she had to go away and be
quiet and remember just to make it last longer.
P. 39
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Act 2- September 1911 Gerald Croft Selfishness
Geralds contact with Eva Smith is outright
selfishness. Although he shows some concern when
he hears of Evas death, it is soon over with-
It is he who makes contact the second time he
goes back to the Palace bar two nights later to
see if he can meet her again.
While this is happening he is still going out
with Sheila Birling.
It is he who offers the flat to Eva.
Although Sheila also expects to be seeing him,
he informs her that he cant because he is too
busy at work.
At one point he decides to go back with Sheila
and promptly ditches Eva
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Act 2- September 1911 Gerald Croft Selfishness
He chooses a time to tell Eva when he knows he
will be away for three weeks so that she is not
able to contact him.
Although he does not love her, he is aware that
she is deeply in love with him. It is maybe for
that reason that he offers her a little money.
He tells Sheila that he wishes to go outside for
a while and when he does return it is he that
leads the others into doubting the Inspector is
real and that indeed Eva Smith has killed herself.
At the end of the play when it seems that the
Inspector may not be real Gerald feels very
confident and turns to Sheila
Everything is alright now. Sheila what about
this ring? P. 71
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Act 2- Early Spring 1912 Sybil Birling Eva
Smith
Two weeks before the Inspector arrived Eva met
Sybil Birling. Sybil Birling was the most
prominent member of the Brumley Womens Charity
Organisation. This was an organisation to aid
and help women in distress.
Her contact with Eva was as follows- i. Eva had
approached her committee two weeks earlier. She
was pregnant and had given her name as Mrs.
Birling.
I didnt like her manner. Shed impertinently
made use of our name, though she pretented
afterwards it just happened to be the first she
thought of. P. 44
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Act 2- Early Spring 1912 Sybil Birling Eva
Smith
ii. The committee refused her help. This was
mainly due to pressure from Sybil.
iii. Under Sybils questioning, Eva admitted that
she was not married and that the story she had
first told about a husband deserting her, was a
lie.
iv. Sybil told her to find the young man who had
got her into this condition and demand he is
responsible.
I told her it was her business to make him
responsible. If he refused to marry her - and in
my opinion he ought to be compelled to marry her
- then he must at least support her.
P. 46
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Act 2- Early Spring 1912 Sybil Birling Eva
Smith
v. In the end Eva left having gained no
assistance.
Mrs. Birlings attitude towards Eva was based on
four points.
a. Eva had called herself Mrs. Birling when she
first approached the committee. It got Mrs.
Birling very angry. She referred to it as a
piece of gross impertinence.
b. Eva had told a pack of lies at being married.
c. Eva not only refused to name who the man was
but went on to comment that the person was too
immature to be able to cope with marriage. She
felt marriage was out of the question. This got
Mrs. Birling really angry.
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Act 2- Early Spring 1912 Sybil Birling Eva
Smith
..it made me finally lose all patience with her.
She was giving herself ridiculous airs. She was
claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples
that simply absurd in a girl in her position. P.
46
d. Eva also informed Mrs. Birling that she
refused any further help from the person when she
discovers that the aid she is receiving is stolen
by that person.
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Act 2- Early Spring 1912 Sybil Birling
Prejudice
Sybil Birlings attitude towards Eva Smith is one
of severe prejudice.
It is based on three elements-
i. Name
ii. Class
iii. Situation
i. She is shocked that Eva has used the name of
Birling. Sybil grills her to find out whether
she has married Eric or has another claim to the
name.
She had to admit, after I started questioning
her, that she had no claim to the name. P. 44
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Act 2- Early Spring 1912 Sybil Birling Eva
Smith
It is not clear why Eva used the name, maybe she
thought that being Erics mother she would be
more sympathetic especially since she was
Chairwoman of the Brumleys Womens Charity.
She was find that she was very wrong.
ii. She is astonished that Eva should have
feelings and considerations for people and
situations. She know she is Working Class and
Mrs. Birling feels she has no right to be
choosy. She should be grateful if offers of
help were made to her by other people, whoever
they are. The idea that Eva should decide whether
a certain man was or was not right for her she
found absurd.
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Act 2- Early Spring 1912 Sybil Birling Eva
Smith
She said that the father was only a youngster -
silly and wild and drinking too much. There
couldnt be any question of marrying him - it
would be wrong for them both P. 46
Ah - she had some fancy reason. As if a girl of
that sort would ever refuse money! P. 47
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Act 2- Early Spring 1912 Sybil Birling Eva
Smith
iii. The third reason that Sybil was prejudiced
against Eva was that she was pregnant. She did
not feel it was the responsibility her
organisation to look after Eva. In her mind that
was the responsibility of the father.
Go and look for the father of the child. Its his
responsibility. P. 45
She is convinced that whoever got her pregnant
should be forced to marry her and support her.
If he refused to marry her - and in my opinion he
ought to be compelled to - then he must at least
support her. P. 46
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Act 2- Early Spring 1912 Sybil Birling Eva
Smith
She clearly also blames Eva for becoming
pregnant. She comments on her character when she
refers to her refusal of money from Eric.
As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money
P. 47