Arms and the Man is a play by George Bernard Shaw. The fact that it was first put on stage back in 1894 might make people think that it is quite an old-fashioned play. However, one can definitely argue that this is not the case at all, as it really should be seen as a modern comedy. Its content and message are still as relevant today as they were when it first appeared in the theaters.

As it is set during the Serbo-Bulgarian war, one of the play’s themes is the theme of war. This is still as relevant a topic today as it was then. Raina, the main protagonist of the play, hides a Swiss mercenary soldier called Bluntschli. Through Bluntschli, the author questions the point of war. Bluntschli is a very sarcastic and ironic person, and it is through his remarks that the audience begins to realize how pointless war really is.

The other main theme of the play is love. However, as opposed to the conventional romantic way of looking at love and relationships, the play focuses on the fact that love is not always easy. People often have a wrong perception of love. Like Raina, people are often in love with their perception of a person, rather than with the person themselves. Raina thinks she loves Sergius; she is engaged to him, and she almost glorifies him. However, as she spends more time with Bluntschli, she begins to question her feelings for Sergius.

In this comedy, Shaw shows the audience that love isn’t always easy and straightforward. Through his play, Shaw challenges common perceptions and expectations within society with regard to love. This progressive thinking makes this comedy a modern comedy, as these theme is still relevant today.