Arms and the Man (Masterplots II: Drama)
At a glance:
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- First Published: 1898
- Type of Work: Comedy
- Time of Work: 1885-1886
- Setting: Bulgaria
- Principal Characters: Raina Petkoff, Catherine Petkoff, Major Paul Petkoff, Major Sergius Saranoff, Captain Bluntschli, Nicola, Louka
- Genres: Drama, Comedy
- Subjects: Pragmatism, Love or romance, Nineteenth century, War, Idealism, Soldiers, Eastern Europe or eastern Europeans
- Locales: Bulgaria
The Play
Arms and the Man begins in November, 1885. Raina is seen at the open balcony window on the second floor of the Petkoff house in a small Bulgarian town. Her mother enters with the news that Raina’s fiance, Sergius, has just led the Bulgarians to victory in battle against the Serbians. Raina rejoices; her idealistic expectations of war and soldiers have been met. The servant Louka enters to tell them that the army has ordered people to stay indoors and lock and bolt all doors and windows while stragglers are being pursued in the streets. Catherine and Louka...
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