Question: G B Shaw as a socially conscious playwright
Introduction
G.B. Shaw (1856-1950) is a prolific writer of the Victorian Period. In view of his achievements and his influence on the theatre as a social reformer, philosopher, realistic and imaginative writer, and master of the modern comedy of ideas, it is universally agreed that he was a versatile dramatist. In his play “You Never Can Tell”, he displays the social problems and gives solutions. So, we can say Shaw is a social conscious playwright.
Focusing on stereotypical ideas
Shaw represents in the play stereotypical ideas of Victorian modern people. Mrs. Clandon is a feminist. When Mrs. Clandon leaves her husband, Mr. Crampton, she threats to her husband that she will teach her children her own philosophy and ideas. But she fails because her daughter, Gloria disobeys her ideal and falls in love with Valentine. But Mrs. Clandon tries to dissuade Gloria from falling in love with
“How many times he has laid the trap in which he has caught you; how often he has baited it with the same speeches; how much practice it has taken to make him perfect in his chosen part in life as the Duelist of Sex.”
However, after a long gap of eighteen years, when Mrs. Clandon meets her husband, her character begins to change and she wants feelings for her husband. On the other hand, her husband, Mr. Crampton passes a lonely life without his wife and children. At last, they get reconciled. Through their reconciliation, Shaw means to say that, family life must be based on wisdom and understanding, not emotion.
“How many times he has laid the trap in which he has caught you; how often he has baited it with the same speeches; how much practice it has taken to make him perfect in his chosen part in life as the Duelist of Sex.”
Love and marriage a genetic fact
Shaw is a realistic and social reformer. He expresses a cynical attitude about love and marriage and reveals that love and marriage are a genetic fact. Valentine is anti-romantic in his attitude towards love but when he sees Gloria instantly he feels that oxygen is running in his blood. On the other hand, Gloria is taught unromantic and unconventional education by her mother. She thinks that love is the sentimentality of romance and is an enemy of marriage. When Valentine expresses his interest with Gloria, Gloria says that she has no intention of getting married. But with the unpredictable urge of life force, they fall in love with each other. So it can assert that Shaw is a socially conscious playwright.
More Notes: Modern Drama
Respect and evaluation for peace and happiness
Shaw expresses in the play that none can live without family. Everyone needs familial mutual understanding and happiness. Mr. Crampton does not want to meet with his family but unfortunately, he meets with them. On the other hand, Mrs. Clandon is a feminist. She lives her own philosophy and ideas. She always wants to stay far from her husband. But when they meet a long gap of eighteen years, they forget their ideology and want to each other. Here Shaw shows that familial peace and happiness is indispensable because it provides mutual understanding and pleasure.
Value of all professions
Shaw presents in the play all professions. At beginning of the play, we notice that Valentine is a dentist. At the Marine Hotel, Walter Boon is professionally a waiter but his son Walter Bohun is a barrister. Here, Shaw expresses that all professions have social value. In the play, the waiter, Walter Boon, tells Mr. Crampton about the mystery of life:
“It’s the unexpected that always happens, isn’t it? You never can tell, sir: you never can tell.”
Emphasis on day to day life
Shaw expresses in the play that none can know what will happen in the future. So, everyone should enjoy the day to day life without worrying about the future.
Conclusion
In termination, we can undoubtedly assert that Shaw is a socially conscious playwright because he expresses his realistic ideas about the problems of society.
