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Discuss the scene of higher love between Raina and Sergius.

Describe in short, scene of higher love between Sergius and Raina.

Introduction: We find the case of higher love in Arms and the Man with Raina and Sergius. The former is probably more sincere and infatuated. Infact it is only through her that we get a glimpse of “higher love. We get an inkling of her feelings. When, after hearing from her mother about the great victory of Sergius, she says, “Oh, what faithless little creatures girls are!” and soon after comes the glimpse. She goes to the photograph of Sergius on the chest of drawers, and adores it with feelings that are beyond all expression. Like a common lover she does not kiss it or press it to her breast or show it any mark of bodily affection. Like one feeling the higher over she takes it in her hands and elevates it, like a preistess. She looks up at the picture and says, “Oh, I shall never be unworthy of you any more, my soul’s hero: never, never never” and before sitting down to read she raises her eyes once more and murmurs: “My hero! My hero!”

Petkoff and Sergius have returned from the war. Sergius comes to their house. Raina naturally knows it, but she does not run out to meet him at once. That would be common place. When, after talking with Petkoff and Catherine for sometime, he at last asks about her, she comes round the corner of the house and standing at the top of the steps in the path says, “Raina is here. “Sergius goes impulsively to meet her. Posing regally she presents her hand: he drops chivalrously on one knee and kisses it.

Before the actual scene begins there is a small incident which finally gives greater flow to the scene of higher love between Raina and Sergius, Sergius, goaded on by Petkoff, narrates before them the story of the Swiss taking shelter in the bedroom of a Bulgarian lady and being sent on his way disguised in an old coat belonging to the master of the house, Raina rebukes Sergius and turns away coldly. Sergius is ashamed and humble. He asks forgiveness of both.

The real scene is enacted when Cathrine persuades Petkoff to spare Sergius for Raina for some time and the two go into the house together. Sergius is afraid that she is still offended. Raina smiles and stretches out her arms to him. When he asks gorgiveness again she places her hands on his shoulders. looks up at him with admiration and worship and says, “My hero! My king!” He says that all his deeds have been hers. She inspired him. He went through the war like a knight in a tournament with his lady looking down at him. Raina says very solemnly, “I think we two have found the higher love.” They praise and adore each other. He calls her him saint and before she can give a similar reply says, “Let me be the worshipper dear. You little know how unworthy even the best man is of girl’s pure passion!”

This is almost the climax of the scene. The two could not have easily found greater things to say. Moreover, it has been long enough and the dramatist mercilessly allows them some relief by a small hindrance. Louka is heard singing within the house. The scene comes to an end.

This is all that we sitness of the higher love. It is not repeated; it meets an almost untimely-or timely, is it?- end. Sergius’s attention is arrested by Louka. After the scene of higher love which he syas, it a” very fatiguing thing to keep up for any length of time,” Sergius was feeling the need of some relief. He flirts with Louka and, although he is suprised at himself, we know that the higher love’ in him is as good as dead and Louka kills it further by stab after stab, sometimes talking ill of Raina and sometimes goading him on and even challenging him and in the case of Raina this higher love first comes a little lower in her remark” Have you been flirting with Louka?” and before it could ascend to its height again, Sergius is separated from Raina.