George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is amongst the very few authors who writes anti-romantically about the stark reality of human life. With a diametrically opposite view from the Romantics, he chose to write plays that unveiled the blemishes of humankind. His plays depict with uncompromised directness the discrepancies amongst various social, political beliefs.
In his plays he had been able to negate many accepted norms and ideals as false and unnecessary. For example, in his widely quoted play Arms and the Man Shaw questioned the credibility of romantic love. He argued that romantic love is full of falsehood as it mostly entailed by illusions. Shaw disclosed the hollowness of romantic love by distinguishing between the true and feign bravery. In the play Shaw opined that a true hero never showcases his bravery to enthrall others, rather he fights as and when required. He further argued that a true hero never endangers his life foolishly just to amaze others. We can see that Captain Bluntschli, the hero in Arms and the Man possesses "fears" which each typical individual may experience in practical life. Therefore, the play in question has been enacted by Shaw just to direct us towards the much needed disillusionment from the false notions of heroism.
In his plays he had been able to negate many accepted norms and ideals as false and unnecessary. For example, in his widely quoted play Arms and the Man Shaw questioned the credibility of romantic love. He argued that romantic love is full of falsehood as it mostly entailed by illusions. Shaw disclosed the hollowness of romantic love by distinguishing between the true and feign bravery. In the play Shaw opined that a true hero never showcases his bravery to enthrall others, rather he fights as and when required. He further argued that a true hero never endangers his life foolishly just to amaze others. We can see that Captain Bluntschli, the hero in Arms and the Man possesses "fears" which each typical individual may experience in practical life. Therefore, the play in question has been enacted by Shaw just to direct us towards the much needed disillusionment from the false notions of heroism.
