George Bernard Shaw: Influential Playwright and Social Critic
George Bernard Shaw, an Irish playwright, social critic, and political activist, is renowned for his witty language and social criticism in works like "Arms and the Man," "Pygmalion," and "Saint Joan." Shaw's influence on British socialist theory through Fabianism and his embodiment of realism in English drama have left a lasting impact on literary and social discourse.
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Arms and the Man Arms and the Man George Bernard Shaw
26 July 1856 26 July 1856 2 November 1950 2 November 1950
Profile Profile Irish playwright, social critic, and political activist Written more than sixty plays 1925 was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature Born in Dublin, Shaw moved to London in 1876 he joined the gradualist Fabian Society ( British socialist organization) Influenced by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen Shaw introduced realism into English drama
Fabian Socialism Fabian Socialism Fabianism became prominent in British socialist theory in the 1880s. The name Fabian derives from Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, the Roman general famous for his delaying tactics against Hannibal Barca during the Second Punic War. The early Fabians rejected the revolutionary doctrines of Marxism, recommending instead a gradual transition to a socialist society. The most- influential early Fabian theorists included George Bernard Shaw and Graham Wallas as well as Sidney and Beatrice Webb, who would remain prominent thinkers in the movement.
The word "Shavian" has entered the language as encapsulating Shaw's ideas and his means of expressing them. Shavian= witty language and social criticism. WORKS first public success Arms and the Man in 1894 Candida 1897 Caesar and Cleopatra 1901 MrsWarren s Profession- 1902 Man and Superman 1905 Major Barbara 1905 The Doctor's Dilemma 1906 Pygmalion1913 Back to Methuselah 1922 Saint Joan 1923 The Apple Cart 1929
Arms and the Man title comes from the opening words ofVirgil's Aeneid, in Latin:Arma virumque cano ("Of arms and the man I sing") A humorous play The futility of war Witty way to look at the hypocrisies of human nature.
Characters Characters Raina Petkoff - protagonist and heroine Major Petkoff Raina s father Catherine Petkoff -Raina s mother Major Sergius Saranoff -Raina's fianc Captain Bluntschli Swiss mercenary, (soldier hired by foreign country ) Louka -female servant Nicola male servant Bluntschli s friend
ACT ONE The play begins in a small town near the Dragoman Pass in Bulgaria. bedroom of Raina Petkoff. Time: November 1885. Background- Bulgaria-Serbia engaged in war. No official narrator- Only the reader knows stage setting. examples, notes on the mental states of some of the characters. The notes describe Raina s room s d cor as lavishly artistic. There are chocolate cream candies visible on a dresser.A photograph of Sergius which Raina idolizes.
Raina gazes out her rooms window Catherine Petkoff enters and delivers the news that Bulgarian-Russian army has won a great battle at Slivnitza, against the Serbians. Sergius is responsible for leading the army towards victory. Raina on heroism-her doubts Louka the maid, enters, and says that all windows and doors in the house should be closed because there are fleeing Serbians in the area, and they might try to hide in Bulgarian houses.
Catherine leaves the room Louka privately tells Raina that she can push open one of the shutters against Catherine s wishes to continue listening to the battle. Raina hears the shutters clatter, and a man comes inside the room, telling Raina to be quiet or he ll shoot her. Captain Bluntschli wants to hide in Raina s room as the Bulgarian army was looking for him.
Bluntschli Not an appealing look- shabby appearance- contrast to Sergius s photograph undistinguished appearance Raina is surprised to see how B behaves, without any sense of pride, valor- silly and ordinary behaviour He threatens to kill Raina , wants to save his life. Warns that the Bulgarians would come and see her in her night dress- she takes the cloak(dress) to cover herself; takes that away. cloak is powerful in intimidating, silencing than a pistol.
Catherine and Louka comes in again, Raina asks B to hide behind. young soldier too comes along, of the Bulgarian army, who reports that a runaway from the Serbians might be on the balcony and attempt to get into the house. Raina asks Louka to stay with Catherine. But Louka senses something suspicious. Raina cries out seeing B s pistol on the ottoman, but he says its not loaded. He carries chocolates rather than cartridges! behavior unbecoming for a soldier : contrast in perspectives.
Offers her chocolate cream candies Talks about leader from Bulgarian side- Sergius mocks him foolish and unprofessional. Serbians-machine guns(wrong cartridges) /Bulgarians have horses. Sergius won because of luck! Raina tries to send him away-, boasts about her family s wealth and hospitality. B reveals about his family wealth- father owns six hotels.
Raina goes out to fetch Catherine, but coming back, but shocked to see B sleeping in her bed instead.
Act Two March of 1886 Nicola and Louka converses, L complains about Raina and Catherine, we get the information that they are engaged. Louka also says she knows many of the Petkoffs secrets, and could use them against the family. Major Paul Petkoff returns from the war. Bulgarians and Russians have established a peace pact with the Serbians
Impossible to achieve total victory against Serbians Before Sergius enters the scene, Petkoff tells Catherine to remove him out of the family; lacks any ability or skill/ military skill or intelligence Sergius enters- cynical, moody, and thinks the world is unworthy of his ideals/utopian resigned his commission in the Bulgarian army Petkoff and Sergius discusses about a soldier- who tricked them into trading two hundred worn-out horses for fifty strong men.
Story about two women who are hiding a swiss soldier chocolate cream soldier Sergius and Raina are seen together for the first time in the play Expresses commitment But Sergius seen flirting with Louka Louka tells him that they should move to some other place; she reveals Raina is in love with somebody! Raina enters and asks whether they were flirting; apologizes to him!
Catherine enters and wonders with Raina at the terrible luck of Sergius and Petkoff meeting the soldier that the two women helped. Raina departs. Louka returns and announces the arrival of a Swiss soldier named Captain Bluntschli. Bluntschli has returned to give back Petkoff s coat, which Catherine lent him to stay warm and disguise himself when he left the house. Sergius and Petkoff have already seen Bluntschli from the window and come out to greet him happily, as they have already met him during the war.
Raina says aloud the chocolate cream soldier. Raina clears the confusion by lying that Nicola has destroyed a soldier ornament she has constructed to place on a chocolate dessert dish. Nicola and Bluntschli exchanges the bag Petkoff asks Bluntschli to stay with them/ agrees.
Act Three Scene Library / Bluntschli displays his military abilities Petkoff wonders where his old coat went. Catherine tells him his coat is in the closet where he left it , now Nicola brings it to the scene Sergius and Petkoff leave the library, Sergius somewhat embarrassed by Bluntschli s expertise Raina and Bluntschli are alone for the first time, appreciates his look
Hiding story was revealed to one man by B- and he discloses it to Sergius and petkoff About lie Bluntschli declares that his is infatuated with Raina She admits to leaving a picture of herself for Bluntschli in the pocket of her father s coat that Bluntschli wore when he escaped the house. Bluntschli did not find the picture. Louka enters to deliver a letter for Bluntschli that says his father has died.
Bluntschli leaves to begin planning his departure. Raina departs, and Nicola enters, finding Louka alone. Exchanges information that sergius-Louka and B to Nicola got money Nicola states that although Nicola and Louka are engaged, Nicola would help her to become a lady if she could arrange it. Louka reveals Saranoff that Raina is in love with B Sergius quickly finds Bluntschli and challenges him to the duel. Informer was brutally killed by the Bulgarians
Bluntschli finally admits that the picture was kept for him by Raina Sergius- Louka B was hiding with the help of C and Raina Bluntschli chooses Nicola as the head of some of the hotels Sergius and Louka B proposes to Raina When the play ends, Bluntschli leaves to handle his father s estate, and promises to return to marry Raina. He also asks Sergius to wait to marry Louka until his return so they can all celebrate together. Sergius has the last words of the play, exclaiming, What a man! What a man!
Themes Themes War & Love 1. Disappointment with war Title of the play The Serbo-Bulgarian War s Saranoff and B- as contrasting attitudes Raina ideaolisation changes into reality 2. The complexity of romantic love Raina Louka Sergius
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