Arms And the Man
Drama
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George Bernard Shaw
Arms and the Man Main Text
ARMS AND THE MAN
ACT I
Night. A lady’s bedchamber in Bulgaria, in a small town near the Dragoman Pass. It is late in November in the year 1885, and through an open window with a little balcony on the left can be seen a peak of the Balkans, wonderfully white and beautiful in the starlit snow. The interior of the room is not like anything to be seen in the east of Europe. It is half rich Bulgarian...
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Arms and the Man key Facts
Writer: George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950)
Full Title: "Arms and the Man"
Source of the Title: The title comes from the opening words of Virgil's Aeneid, in Latin: Arma virumque cano ("Of "Arms and the Man" I sing").
Written Time: 1894
Published Date: 1898 (in book form)
Genre: Anti-Romantic comedy and social satire
Tone: Funny, light, and critical (Shaw makes fun of false heroism)
Po...
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Arms and the Man Themes
Heroism and the Reality of War: The play challenges traditional notions of heroism. In Act 1, Raina admires her fiancé Sergius as a hero. However, she soon learns that true courage is not about idealized battle heroics. Bluntschli reveals in Act 2 that war is not glorious. He also claims that soldiers often fear death. The play exposes war as a sham. It highlights that real heroism lies in practic...
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Arms and the Man Symbols
Raina's Balcony: Symbol of romantic idealism and confrontation with reality.
Chocolates: Represents superficial romantic gestures and contrasts with practicality.
Shawl: Signifies a connection between characters and transitions from idealism.
Petkoff's Library: Represents appearances versus chaotic realities.
Bluntschli's Gun: Symbolizes practicality and rationality.
Uniforms: Highlight the...
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Arms and the Man Characters
Major Characters:
Captain Bluntschli: Captain Bluntschli is a Swiss mercenary soldier. He fights in the war but does not have the usual soldier’s courage. He is practical and smart and prefers to save his life instead of being a hero. He runs away from the battlefield with a suitcase full of chocolates.
Raina Petkoff: Raina is the young and beautiful heroine of the play. At first, she believes i...
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Arms And the Man Quotes
Idealism of Love
“I think we two have found the higher love. When I think of you, I feel that I could never do a base deed, or think an ignoble thought.”
Explanation: Raina believes that her love for Sergius is pure and perfect. She thinks of him as someone who makes her better. However, this is ironic because she secretly helped Bluntschli, and Sergius is secretly involved with Louka. Their relat...
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Arms And the Man Summary
Plot Summary
The Beginning of the Story: At the start of the play, Raina is sitting on her balcony late at night, admiring the stars. Her mother, Catherine, enters and questions her about what she is doing. Raina responds by explaining that she is enjoying the moonlit night and marveling at the stars. Catherine scolds her for staying up late but then shares some good news: their army has won the w...
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Notes
Explore 13 detailed notes related to Arms And the Man. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.