Contents

Critically appreciate the play ‘Arms and the man’.

Write a critical appreciation of play’ Arms and the Man’.

Critical Appreciation of the play ‘Arms and the Man’

Introduction. Shaw’s plays advocate the moral truth of life and filled with humour to the brain but he never forgets the main theme of the play. Following points can be taken for description.

Theme and Plot Construction. The main theme of the play is ‘love’ and ‘war’, ‘the romantice attitude of love and war’ which is rebuked by the dramatist. He, at last seems to break this romantic notion of love and war. There were in numerable social evils in the country. Shaw advises that being in weak situation, a true soldier should run away. The romanticism of war enjoyed by Sergius is broken and at last he comments.

Plot construction in his play is not strictly women in unity. To him the expression of unity was superior. Shaw says, “I let the play write itself and shape which it always does even when upto the last moment and I do not foresee the way out.” His plots are filled with superfluous events so they seem loose. Except some situations described in the play, he plot construction is well knit.

Characterisation. Shaw created wise characters as well as fools. Like Shakespeare, he made his females superior to males. Shaw’s characters are tools in his hands. While Shakespeare present some characters as eccentric.

Ordinary characters are also important. He presents emotional love.

Shaw’s female racters. long to low or high moral status but none of them is hateful. They hear a good dignity and mockery is derived out of their stupidity. Raina is Shaw’s ideal female character. His characters are the outcome of society and practical world. They are memorable for their dialogues.

Its Dialogues and Action. Shaw’s dialogues are very forceful and interesting. His dialogues make his play more lively and pleasant and make the deficiency of plot construction and techniQ His dialogues bristle with his wit, humour and sarcasm. His dialogues are easy to rememer and delightful to speak. He is a master of dramatic dialogue. Almost all his characters express themselves well. His dialogues are incomparable.

Action is the very core of drama but according to some critics there is lack of action in his plays. Shaw converted the stage into debating platform.He paid more attention to dialogues than to action.

‘Arms and the Man‘ is full of memorable dialogues. Bluntschli carries chocolates in place of cartridges in the battlefield and Raina calls him “Chocolate Cream Soldier’ Louka in her conversation with Sergius uses sarcastic statements and abusive words against Sergius. In the whole play, there is a thrill, laughter and enjoyment. At many steps, his humour turns into bombastic laughter.

The title of the play is appropriate. Sergius adn Bluntschli are two. main characters. Sergius gets his chain victory in the war against the Serbs. But Bluntschli, the Swiss is a professional and experienced soldier. The dreamaist discards romanticism of war. Shaw has proved it again that man is more powerful than sword. Thus, the title is quite suggestive and significant.

Atmosphere of Situations. Bernard Shaw intentionally filled this drama with laughter. In the starting scenes, he mentions library many times but in Act III he says,” It is not much of library. Here are some newspapers and filled books on which the cups of coffee are placed. There are also some torn file covers and torn books. Here is also a divan in that library. Sergius as a soldier and lover is mocked here. Nicola is ridiculed in the play.

Language and Style. Bernard Shaw uses a simple language and interesting style in his plays. The play does not begin with the real problem of the theme. In this drama, Shaw’s craftsmanship comes to light when an old coat plays such an important role that the action is changed thoroughly.

Moral and Aims of the Drama. His plays have a strong moral sense. In this drama, he warms against the blind race of weapons and war. He wants the progress of people and goods etc, in Bulgaria. People should have sense of senitation. He exposes the vain glory of romantic love. He points out that the sources of love is never far from body.

Stage Direction and TechniQ Shaw is very skilful in issung elaborate stage direction. Soliloquies and Asides have been banished and they have been profitably replaced by stage directions. He does not ignore even minute things In Arms and the Man’ Shaw gives a clear description of Raina’s bedroom and library.

Beginning and End. Shaw has began his drama in an effective way. The spectator has curiocity to know what is to happen next. Thus it Show he has well construction its plot and theme.