G. B. Shaw (1856-1950)

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G. B. Shaw (1856-1950)

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Characteristics of his plays

• 1. Ibsens influence in making his plays a
  vehicle for ideas (problem play), in which
  various social problems are discussed
• 2. an Irish capacity for jest and a verbal wit
  equal to that of Congreve or Wilde
• 3. a combination of wide social enthusiasms with
  a gift for

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Characteristics of his plays

• 3.the plot of his plays advanced not by action,
  but by dialogues(witty and brilliant )like
  comedies of manners
• 4.paradox effectively used, through which the
  truth is revealed

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Characteristics of his plays

• 5. use of paradoxical characters, by which, the
  foolish, or the object of attack tell most
  striking truth.

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Quotations from Shaw

• 1. The reasonable man adapts himself to the
  world the unreasonable one persists in trying to
  adapt the world to himself. Therefore allprogress
  depends on the unreasonable man.

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Quotations from Shaw

• 2. Those who can, do those who cant, teach.
• 3.Too True to Be Good.
• (c.f. too good to be true)

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Pygmalion

• I.Introduction
• 1.the title
• In Greek mythology Pygmalion was a Cyprus king
  who fell in love with one of his women statues
  and , moved by his affection for the statue,the
  goddess turned the statue to life.

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Pygmalion

• I. Introduction
• 2.well-known , the basis for the musical play and
  film My Fair Lady.
• 3.Professor Higgins takes a flower-seller from
  the London streets and makes her into a grand
  lady.

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Pygmalion

• II. Themes
• 1.the behavior( not ways of talking )really
  shows the differences between the characters
• 2.the most important thing in human relationships
  is that people care about each other(Eliza)
• 3.the most important thing is that they help each
  other to improve themselves(Professor Higgins)