Most farcical moments in the play revolve around a character’s lack of information. Shaw uses farcical elements to highlight and dramatize this confrontation. The play’s primary theme revolves around the confrontation between knowledge and ignorance. How does George Bernard Shaw use farcical elements to further the play’s theme? Raina misunderstands the meaning of Bluntschli’s decision to carry chocolates such a choice was not childish, but eminently reasonable given chocolate’s value as a ration and the fact that the Captain was issued the wrong cartridges. When in the form of Raina’s chocolate creams, it represents romanticism chocolate creams were an expensive, fragile treat enjoyed primarily by the upper classes. When in the form of Bluntschli’s gritty rations it represents pragmatism chocolate with low dairy content was often used by soldiers in wartime, who prized its durability and caloric density. Sergius demonstrates this second form of bravery when he agrees to marry Louka, a servant well below his social station with whom he has fallen in love.Įxplain the symbolic value of Bluntschli’s chocolate rations and Raina’s chocolate creams.Ĭhocolate serves as a dual symbol in Arms and the Man. The second is first articulated by Louka and focuses on personal integrity in the face of social pressure. The first belongs to Sergius at the beginning of the play and focuses on theatrical and dramatic actions taken during battle this understanding pushes Sergius to lead a suicidal charge against a row of machine guns. Bluntschli serves as a diminished version of Aeneas, highlighting the unbelievable aspects of the warrior’s story, effectively satirizing heroic retellings of wars.ĭiscuss the different conceptions of bravery presented by the play.Īrms and the Man presents two competing conceptions of bravery: the romantic and the realistic. By reflecting the conventions of Virgil’s poetry and distorting them, Shaw brings attention to the unrealistic ideals of the original.

Shaw borrows much of the structure of the first act from the Aeneid in order to better satirize the glorification of both warriors and war. The play’s title is a reference to Virgil’s epic poem the Aeneid, which documents the heroic travels and adventures of Aeneas. What older work does the title Arms and the Man reference? Why is this allusion made?

Regardless of any social limits they may face, women in Arms and the Man wield informal power and shape the events of the play. Multiple times throughout the play, women are shown to be powerful: Raina and Louka using their wit to control the men around them Catherine shepherding the bumbling Petkoff through life Louka successfully pushing Sergius into marrying her. Yet Shaw makes Sergius and Major Petkoff just as - if not more - ridiculous. Both Raina and Catherine are often presented as frivolous or foolish, particularly when exhibiting class pretentions. The play’s portrayal of women is complex.

George bernard shaw plays aeneid