Theme 9: English Literature of the 20th Century (1st half).

Plan:

1. George Bernard Shaw – his life and work.

2. Three groups of Shaw's plays.

3. Plays, reflecting historical events.

4. The most popular play 'Pygmalion'.

5. Literature of the 'Lost Generation'. Richard Aldington – his life and work. 'Death of a Hero'.

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW

(1856-1950)

George Bernard Show is an outstanding English playwright, one of the greatest satirists of the twentieth century. He was born in Dublin in an impoverished middle-class family. Until fourteen he attended a college, and from 1871 was employed in a land agent's office. In 1876 he went to London, where he became a journalist and wrote music and dramatic critics for various periodicals. He was always in the midst of political life in Britain and took an active part in solving human problems. As literary critics state, Shaw's manner of expression is based on real facts and ridicule. He exposes truth through satire and sarcasm.

The creative work of Bernard Shaw began with novels: 'Immaturity' (1879), 'The Irrational Knot' (1880), 'An Unsocial Socialist'(1883), 'Love Among the Artists' ( 1888), but they had little success, and in 1892 the author turned to dramatic writing. His intellectual equipment was far greater than that of any of his contemporaries. He alone had understood the greatness of Norwegian dramatist Ibsen, and he was determined that his own plays should also be a vehicle for ideas. He had, from the first, accepted a burden in his dramas, beyond the presentation of plot and character. He had signed a contract with himself, and with the spirit of Ibsen, that each play should present a problem and discuss it thoroughly. His first

plays he divided into three groups: (1) Plays Unpleasant – 'Philanderer', 'Widowers' Houses' (1893), 'Mrs. Warren's Profession' (1898); (2) Plays Pleasant – 'Arms and the Man', 'Candida' (1898), 'The Man of Destiny', 'You Can Never Tell'; (3) Three Plays for Puritans — 'The Devil's Disciple' (1901), 'Caesar and Cleopatra' (1901), 'Captain Brassbound's Conversion'. Among other plays there are: 'Man and Superman' (1903), 'John Bull's Other Island' 1906), 'Major Barbara'(1907), 'Heartbreak House' (1917), 'Pygmalion' (1919), 'Saint Joan'(1923), 'Back to Methuselah' (1921), 'The Apple Cart' (1930), 'Too Good to Be True' (1932), 'On the Rocks' (1933). In these and other plays Shaw criticized the vices of the existing society. They also reveal human psychology as a product of this society.

Shaw was convinced that modern plays should contain, along with the traditional plot conflict and its resolution, what he called 'the discussion', a consideration of important problems and suggestions for their resolution.

'Pygmalion'

One of Shaw's best comedies is 'Pygmalion', written in 1912 and first produced in England in 1914. It was adapted into the musical 'My Fair Lady' in 1956. The title 'Pygmalion' comes from a Greek myth. Pygmalion, a sculptor, carved a statue out of ivory. It was the statue of a beautiful young woman whom he called Galatea. He fell in love with his own handiwork, so the goddess of love Aphrodite breathed life into the statue and transformed it into a really alive woman. The fable was chosen to allow him to discuss the theme he had set himself.

The principal characters of the play are Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins. Eliza, a girl of eighteen, comes from the lowest social level and speaks with a strong Cockney (East End of London) accent, which is considered to be the most uncultured English. Eliza's father is a dustman. Eliza does not want to stay with her father and stepmother. She makes her own living by selling flowers in the streets of London.

Henry Higgins, another main character of the play, is a professor of phonetics. He studies the physiological aspects of a person's speech, the sounds of the language. One day he sees Eliza in the street and bets with his friend Colonel Pickering that he will change this girl. He will not only teach her to speak her native language correctly, but will teach her manners too. Higgins works hard and before six months are over, she is well prepared to be introduced into society. Higgins wins his bet. When the game is over the girl doesn't know where to go. She doesn't want to return to her previous life, but at the same time she is not admitted to the high society as she is poor.

Higgins and Eliza remain friends, but the play is without ending. The dramatist thought it best not to go on with the story. Higgins loves Eliza only as his pupil. But he loves his profession as an artist. He has created a new Eliza. She is the work of a Pygmalion.

'Pygmalion' shows the author's concern for the perfection of the English Language. Shaw was passionately interested in the English language and the varieties of ways in which people spoke and misspoke it. Shaw wished to simplify and reform English. He has pointed out that the rules of spelling in English are inconsistent and confusing. The text of 'Pygmalion' reflects some of his efforts at simplifying the usage of letters and sounds in the English Language. The play also allowed Shaw to present ideas on other topics. For example, he touched the problems of social equality, male and female roles, and the relationship between the people.

Date: 2015-01-02; view: 2088