Reproduction of the original. The publishing house Megali specialises in reproducing historical works in large print to make reading easier for people with impaired vision.
"Candida" by George Bernard Shaw is a captivating play that delves into themes of love, marriage, and societal expectations. Set in Victorian England, the play revolves around the complex dynamics of the relationship between Candida, a strong-willed and independent woman, and her husband, Reverend James Morell, a charismatic but self-absorbed clergyman. At the heart of the story is the arrival of Eugene Marchbanks, a young poet who becomes infatuated with Candida and challenges the conventions of love and marriage. As Marchbanks professes his love for Candida, tensions rise, and the characters confront their own desires, insecurities, and conflicting loyalties. Shaw uses sharp wit and incisive dialogue to explore the power dynamics within the Morell household and to dissect the illusions of romantic love and marital bliss. Through Candida's character, Shaw challenges traditional gender roles and societal expectations, presenting her as a symbol of female agency and independence. As the drama unfolds, Shaw invites audiences to question the nature of love, the meaning of marriage, and the dynamics of power in relationships. "Candida" is celebrated for its complex characters, witty repartee, and thought-provoking themes, cementing Shaw's reputation as one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century.
The second of Shaw’s “unpleasant” plays, written in 1893, published in 1898, but not performed until 1905, The Philanderer is subtitled “A Topical Comedy.” The eclectic range of topical subjects addressed in the play includes the influence of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen on British middle-class social mores (the second act of The Philanderer is set in the fictional Ibsen Club), medical follies, the rise of the “New Woman,” and, in particular, the destructive impact of Victorian marriage and divorce laws. Just as Shaw’s other “unpleasant” plays, Widowers’ Houses and Mrs Warren’s Profession, call, respectively, for reform of laws that allow corrupt property owners to exploit the poor and for radical change to economic structures that drive women into prostitution, so The Philanderer makes the case for more liberal legislation to allow easier divorce—particularly for women—when marriages become irretrievably broken. Shaw’s attack on divorce laws becomes even clearer and stronger in the final act that he wrote for the play but discarded in favour of the version he published. The discarded version is published for the first time in this Broadview edition of the play.