ARMS AND THE MAN
Shaw is a very great
dramatist of England
In
this play Shaw shows that the man is always greater than the machine. The title
of this play justifies this idea. Thus it is highly appropriate. This title is
taken from Dryden's translation of Virgil's Aeneid. Aeneid is an epic in which
arms and war are glorified. But Shaw has reversed this order in his play. According
to him man should not fight war to gain glory and humour. Man should try to
live; soldiers should try to save their lives.
In
fact, 'Arms and the Man' is a drama of ideas. Its plot revolves round war. It
deals with men and their arms. Act I constitutes the Exposition of the play.
The two main themes of the play are also introduced. The beginning of the play
shows the confrontation of Bluntschli and Raina. This is the confrontation of
romantic and the realistic attitudes towards war. Act III works as the
denouement. It has happy ending. In short, this play is well structured.
Shaw
is a great realist. He advocated the domination of reason over emotions. This
play is thus an anti-romantic play. It opens with romantic note. Raina, the
heroine of the play, is standing at the window and dreaming of her lover
Sergius. Accidentally Bluntschli comes in contact with her. He is free from
romantic illusions about war. He cleanses Raina's illusions about war and
heroism.
In
Act II Shaw has exposed the romantic notions of love and marriage. The love of
Raina and Sergius has not any solid ground of reality. It dies as soon as Louka
and Bluntschli interpose. Thus romantic ideas of war and love are nothing but
delusions. Hence this play is an anti-romantic play.
To
conclude, 'Arms and the Man' is a well-structured play. Its title is
appropriate. Here the romantic illusion of war and love are shattered.
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