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George Bernard Shaw

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George Bernard Shaw Biography

George Bernard Shaw was a man of many, many words. His voluminous output over a lifespan of nearly one hundred years has few parallels. While most of his plays dealt with social and political issues, they are best remembered for their intellectual repartee or “Shavian Wit.” Early social dramas like Widower’s Houses and Mrs. Warren’s Profession drew parallels to Ibsen’s early realist works. But by the turn of the century, Shaw’s smart, funny voice had emerged—a unique intersection of styles typified by writers like Oscar Wilde and Anton Chekhov. As a testament to Shaw’s legacy, works like Major Barbara, Saint Joan, and Man and Superman have become canonical, and the Shaw Festival in Canada is one of the largest theater festivals in North America.

Facts and Trivia

  • George Bernard Shaw was an avid socialist throughout his life and even supported for a time the Stalinist regime in Russia.
  • Shaw became legendary for the lengthy prefaces to his plays, which enumerated various social and political concerns. Some of the prefaces were longer than the plays themselves.
  • Shaw’s dark, Chekhovian play Heartbreak House evoked his strong opposition to World War I.
  • Given Shaw’s distaste for musical adaptations of his plays, My Fair Lady (which is taken from Shaw’s Pygmalion) was completed after his death.
  • Referenced in his massive Back to Methuselah and other writings, the “Life Force” was a spiritual idea Shaw created about life and the universe. Its true meaning is still contended.

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Biography

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George Bernard Shaw is renowned for his sharp wit and insightful social critiques. He emerged from humble beginnings in Ireland to become one of the greatest dramatists of the 20th century. His life, filled with political activism and literary brilliance, left an indelible mark on both theater and society.

Early Life in Dublin

George Bernard Shaw entered the world on July 26, 1856, in Dublin, Ireland. Born to a father who struggled with alcoholism and an unsuccessful career and a mother with a passion for music and the arts, Shaw's family life was far from affluent. This financial strain led to the necessity of sharing a home with another family when Shaw was just six years old. Such early encounters with poverty are believed to have heavily influenced Shaw's often unsentimental portrayals of the poor in his plays, most notably in Major Barbara. Shaw's academic journey was brief; he left formal schooling at an early age to work at a land agent's office, marking the beginning of his working life before he even reached sixteen.

London and Literary Struggles

In 1876, Shaw relocated to London, joining his mother and sisters who had already settled there a year prior. He embarked on a writing career, dabbling in music criticism, short stories, and drama. Despite his efforts, Shaw initially struggled to earn a living through his writing, relying heavily on his mother's income and a modest inheritance to make ends meet. His attempts to carve out a niche in fiction were met with little success. However, the tide turned in the 1880s when Shaw began to achieve some recognition, enabling him to support himself financially. This period marked a transformative phase in Shaw's life, as he adopted vegetarianism and vigorously pursued socialist ideals.

Advocate for Gradualism and the Influence of the Fabian Society

Shaw's political views found a natural home in the Fabian Society, a socialist organization established in England in 1884. The Fabians advocated for gradual and sensible change rather than radical revolution, a philosophy that Shaw embraced wholeheartedly. His involvement in the society not only honed his skills as a persuasive speaker but also established him as a respected essayist. Additionally, Shaw's work extended into the realms of book reviews and art criticism. During this time, Shaw became an ardent admirer of Henrik Ibsen, the Norwegian playwright known for his realistic dramas that highlighted social issues. Ibsen's influence permeated Shaw's writing, inspiring him to scrutinize societal norms.

Theater Critic and Playwright

By 1895, Shaw had become the theater critic for the Saturday Review, where he used his platform to attack the pretentiousness and duplicity he perceived in the English theater scene. Shaw's foray into drama began in the 1880s, but it was not until his play Widowers' Houses premiered in 1892 that his work began to gain traction. Subsequent plays like The Philanderer and Mrs. Warren's Profession were written soon after, although they faced delays before production. Over the next few decades, Shaw's prolific output cemented his reputation as a dramatist of note, with works like Arms and the Man, Candida, Major Barbara, and Pygmalion—his most celebrated play, which inspired the iconic musical My Fair Lady.

World War I and Pacifism

With the onset of World War I in 1914, Shaw paused his theatrical endeavors to voice his pacifist views, which were initially met with significant public resistance. However, as the war continued and public opinion shifted, Shaw's perspectives garnered more acceptance. After the conflict ended, Shaw resumed his playwriting, producing works such as Heartbreak House and St. Joan, which further solidified his position as a leading figure in modern drama.

Personal Life and Legacy

In 1898, Shaw married Charlotte Payne-Townshend, a wealthy supporter of socialism who admired his work. Their marriage lasted until her passing in 1943. Shaw's literary contributions were recognized in 1925 when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. He continued crafting plays until his death at the age of ninety-four on November 2, 1950. Shaw's legacy endures, celebrated for his incisive social commentary, brilliant dialogue, and enduring wit. Often hailed as the greatest English dramatist since Shakespeare, his works continue to inspire and provoke audiences worldwide.

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