Portrait of War and Woman in Arms and the Man by Bernard Shaw

Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw is a drama that revolves around the war between the Serbs and the Bulgarians. The story shows Bluntschili, a Serb mercenary who is rescued by Raina, the protagonist. Raina, who belongs to the prominent Petkoff family, is also in love with Captain Sergio, who can ensure a massive victory for the Serbs at Silivinitza. The remainder of the play takes place in the Petkoff family home. Bluntschili returns to the house and returns a coat that belongs to Raina’s father. On it was Raina’s portrait and an inscription written: ‘To my Chocolate Cream Soldier’. When Raina’s father demanded the coat, she was able to cleverly dodge and remove the inscription.

The war is portrayed as semi-comic slapstick by Shaw. Both the comic and the tragic sides of the war are portrayed with authentic tinge. Raina’s room is invaded by Blutnschili, the Serbian mercenary. He is covered in mud and blood and escapes from the Bulgars. Raina takes pity on him and protects him even though she is Bulgarian. When the Bulgarian soldiers enter her room, she brilliantly hides him behind the curtain. Raina becomes a pacifist.

As a mercenary soldier, Bluntschili is comically portrayed. His revolver has no bullets and as a small school boy he carries chocolates with him. When Raina gives him chocolate to eat, he goes so far as to empty the carton by rubbing it with his hands and be done with it. Raina becomes affectionate towards him, labeling him ‘My Chocolate Cream Soldier’. Bluntschili is an archetype of a boy who is least concerned with the gravity of war. When his life is in danger, he seeks protection in Raina’s room. Through Bluntschili we come to understand that war is a tragic comedy, an anathema, a volcano that hurts the mind and body of people. Bluntschili cares least about which side wins the war. He is not brave enough to defend himself and tries to save his own skin. Through Raina, we come to understand that even in battle, enemies can become friends, a quality that is a basic human instinct to be existentially kind to one another. Raina is a prophet of non-violence although her romantic leanings converge with men at war and being fearless, daring and brave.

Sergio, Raina’s future husband, is characterized as a brave soldier. He, ignoring the orders of his superiors, makes a daring cavalry charge and wins the battle for the Bulgars at Silivinitza. Sergio is portrayed as a man with warrior qualities. Raina and Catherine, her mother, rejoice in the Bulgarian victory and are proud that her son-in-law and husband succeed in thwarting the enemies. The serious aspect of the war receives a space for reflection through this character.

The two contrasting personality types involved in the war show ambivalence in Shaw’s description. People by their very nature are peaceful and war is satirized as a comic adventure through Bluntschili’s character. On the other hand, the seriousness of Guerra is given free rein through Sergio’s psyche. There is nothing to admire in war except that it brings devastation to life and property. Shaw becomes an apostle of nonviolence and questions the integrity of nations to indulge in violence and cruelty.

Raina, the protagonist of the work, draws on Pushkin’s romantic fables and opera. She is full of romance and there is a contradiction in the character of her as she on the one hand she regards war as a show to defeat the enemy and fight bravely and on the other hand she has no qualms about trying to protect the enemy herself. her. She is kind and merciful to her enemy. She does this by taking great risks towards her reputation. She is an archetype of the compassionate other, a feminist who acts as a counterculture rebel. When she discovers that Sergius, her aspirant, had won the war, she wonders if she would be more eligible. She idealizes Sergio as a romantic hero. The author in Raina has created a remarkable character that embodies the ideal of modern feminism. She also develops a romantic attraction to Bluntschili, whom she addresses as “my chocolate cream soldier”. Later in the play we find out that she is marrying Blutnchili.

Catalina, Raina’s mother, is portrayed as an aristocratic housewife with all the foundations of traditional motherhood. She has no opinion of her own and goes along with her daughter and her father Petkoff. Catherine can be thought of as an archetypal mother who manages the home and is proud that her son-in-law has won a brilliant victory. Feminists would argue that her character is outdated and anti-feminist. Marxists would argue that her character is a stereotype of the consciousness of the bourgeoisie. She is a character submissive to male ideals, whims and fantasies.

Louka, the maid, is a staunch feminist. When she sees the gun in Raina’s room, she keeps it a secret. But she later reveals it to Sergio. When Sergio tries to flirt with her, she vehemently protests. She has independent opinions of her own. Class consciousness works in her mind until a trauma and she feels that she belongs to the dignified and aristocratic. In Marxist terms: the idea of ​​aristocracy and class consciousness has to be deconstructed as a pathological symptom.