George Bernard Shaw: Life and Theatre

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George Bernard Shaw Life and Theatre
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• George Bernard Shaw (he never used the George)
  was born in Dublin, Ireland 1865 to a
  lower-middle class family.
• Shaw grew up in a dysfunctional family. His
  father was an alcoholic, and his mother was a
  singer who abandoned the family to pursue her
  career. Shaws plays are often filled with
  problematic parent-child relationships.

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• In 1876, Shaw left Dublin and moved to London to
  try his hand at a career in journalism and
  writing. He published a volume of five novels
  before any of them were published.
• He was also involved in progressive politics. He
  helped to found the Fabian Society, a socialist
  political group intent on creating a socialist
  state in Britain.

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• In 1898, Shaw became involved in the theatre and
  began writing plays though his plays were rarely
  produced. In the same year, he fell ill and
  resigned as a theater critic and married
  Charlotte-Payne Townsend.
• Eventually, Shaws plays were produced, and he
  became quite wealthy. He remained active in the
  Fabian Society and participated on committees
  dedicated to ending censorship in the theatre.

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• During WWI, Shaw vehemently expressed his
  disapproval of the war. His public opinions
  tarnished his image, and there was even talk of
  his being tried for treason. He eventually
  rebuilt his reputation, began writing again, and
  became something of a celebrity.
• Following his death in 1950, his plays continued
  to be studied and produced worldwide.

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Pygmalion Themes/Issues

• Class system
• Social prejudice
• Judging by appearance
• Morality/behavior
• Money/class
• Rich/poor
• Speech/dialect

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Pygmalion Social/Historical Context

• 1914- class system-birth, environment, wealth,
  dress, speech, etc.
• 70 of countrys wealth held by 1 of population.
• Entertainment through theatre and newspapers.
• Socialism- the belief that wealth and property
  should be evenly distributed by and amongst the
  community.

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Pygmalion Myth and Influence

• Based on ancient Greek myth about Pygmalion. A
  sculptor whom falls in love with his creation.
• Shaw humanizes this romantic view giving us
  characters mired down in the concerns of a very
  socially minded London, and he asks us if it is
  appropriate to judge others based upon their
  places in society. Shaw critiques the typical
  romance story found in this ancient myth. The
  reader examines whether or not we see the
  Cinderella transformation, and if we receive
  the romance we expect.