Arms and the Man
Arms and the Man is one of George Bernard Shaw's successfully written plays that have become predominant and globally renowned. Shaw's play leads itself to two themes that people can relate to, which are the importance of war and the essentials to true love and marriage. These themes are interwoven, for Shaw believed that while war is evil and stupid, and marriage desirable and good, both had become wrapped in romantic illusions which led to disastrous wars and also to unhappy marriages.1 The theme of war applies itself into the plot within the first few pages of the melodrama, when the Bulgarians are at war with the Serbs. Romance is portrayed by the humorous and ironic relationships of Raina, Sergius and Bluntschli. Unfortunately, due to society's lack of comprehension and failing to learn from our past errors, we are destined to repeat the majority of them. Another act of ignorance found in this play is the attitude of the Petkoffs towards their material advantages and their possessions of wealth, bringing them personal superiority. Arms and the Man is "as fresh and up-to-date today" as when Shaw first produced his play in 1894.2 War is an unfortunate condition that exists when a group feels its vital interests are at stake a
Money and wealth can control a person to become greedy and require more. Shaw was a socialist and an ardent pacifist. 7 Many other wars have taken place since then, and yet man has still to learn that war is not the answer. The battle of Slivnica was remarkable mainly for its surprise ending wherein the Bulgarians defeated the invading Serbians much more by good luck than good management, and went to ally themselves with Austrian Hungary thereby bringing World War I one small step closer. It is much better to live a life of harmony and peace, blessed for what to have, than to live worrying about the things that you do not have. The romantic view of war (he held) is based on the idealistic notation that men fight because they are heroes, and that the soldier who takes the biggest risks wins the greatest glory and is the greatest hero. Shaw believed that it was foolish to act as though the possession of wealth, or any other material advantages, is a sign of personal superiority. News has come home to Raina and her mother that Sergius has ridden bravely at the head of a victorious cavalry charge, and Raina rejoices because she can now believe that her affianced is 'just as splendid and noble as he looks! That the world is really a glorious world for woman who can see its glory and men who can act its romance!' In the opening scene of the play, after adoring Sergius' portrait, Raina goes to bed murmuring 'My hero! My hero!' This is a romantic view of life, but then reality suddenly breaks in upon her. Furthermore, Arms and the Man is "as fresh and up-to-date today" as when Shaw first produced his play in 1894. The theme of war applies itself into the plot within the first few pages of the play, when the Bulgarians are at war with the Serbs. The realities of love and marriage become one of the most frequent themes in Shaw's plays throughout the remainder of his long life. Romance is portrayed by the humorous and ironic relationships of Raina, Sergius and Bluntschli. For example, love and relationships were just as obscure in 1894 as they are in 1998. Raina no longer thinks of war as a romantic game, nor does she any longer think of marriage as the mating of a beautiful heroine and a ornamental and fickle Sergius.
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