Why might a modern audience be more
sympathetic towards Gerald than the original
audience?

Hello. You did not submit the text to which this question refers, which makes it impossible for this question to be answered, but I will try to help you as best I can.

To answer this question, you will need to read the entire text. However, we can consider that the modern public would be more sympathetic to Gerald, because he presented ideas far ahead of his time, or defended elements that were not common in the society he lived in, but which are, but they are more accepted and normal in the modern society. In other words, we can say that Gerald, presents some element that is not to his public's liking, but that would be acceptable in today's society. It is this element that you need to analyze within the text.

i cannot see any of the options                                                                        

being surrounded by crimes, poverty, and failing schools as well as his own lack of confidence in his abilities.