NOTE CRITICHE
Towards modern theatre. Shaw opens the way to moderne drama thanks to the influence of
foreign philosophers, economists and playwrights as Nietzsche, Marx and Ibsen. He wants to
awaken people's consciences. by criticizing the hypocrisy of Victorian society. In this regard the
playwright was seen as a kind of social reformer.
From dialogue to ideas. By presenting and discussing the social problems of his time, as for
example capitalism and its consequences, women's rights, religion and war, Show created a new
kind of drama known as drama of ideas. In his plays conflicting thoughts and ideas replaced
contrasting passions. His characters are very good at discussion but their psycology is not always
studied deeply. They were created in order to embody the author's opinions. Shaw wants to provoke
and to amaze by exploiting devices such as puns and paradoxes.
Stage directions and their function. A very interesting feature typical of Shaw's plays is stage
directions. Their main function is to provide useful information about the characters' gestures,
moods and feelings. Shaw's presence is also evident in the prefaces to his plays where he gives
explanations of the social, political and economic ideas to which the play is referring. Even thought
important and serious problems are debated, humour is an important ingredient used by Shaw as it
helps ordinary people to understand and remember the moral message.
Two philosophical ideas are associated with Shaw: the theory of the Life Force and the theory
of Creative Evolution, they appear in Back to Methuselah. The first is a kind of natural power
present in all living things which guarantees their continuation but only some people can fully
exploit it. The theory of life force can be considered as the equivalent of Nietzsche's "vital energy".
Creative Evolution is linked to Life Force; even though shaw believed in the evolution of mankind
he disagreed with Marx and Darwin as he was convinced that evolution was the consequence of the
efforts of a person's will power
Language and its social importance in Pygmalion. The importance of accent and speaking good
English in order to improve one's social position is the main theme of Pygmalion. He suggests the
creation of an easy phonetic system. Shaw also denounces the failure of the English state education
system; Eliza Dolittle, an illiterate flower girl, will become a lady thanks to Professor Higgin's
private lessons.
A feminist play. Even though Eliza owes a lot to Professor Higgins, she reacts against his
arrogance, remarking that she has also succeeded because of her strong will. She refuses to marry
Higgins unlike in the Greek myth of Pygmalion or in the fairy tale of Cinderella, which ispired the
play, but she will choose her own independence.
