Date of Award

4-1971

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

English

Abstract

George Bernard Shaw's literary career lasted over seventy years. He wrote prolifically. The most complete collection of his work, the Ayot St. Lawrence Edition, runs to over thirty-one volume, yet it is not all inclusive. His efforts were always motivated by the desire to expand and expound his social and political philosophy. Although the canon of Shavian criticism approaches his motives from a wide of variety of angles and avenues, Shaw singled out "passion of pure political Weltverbesserungwahn (worldbettermentcrase)" as his "own devouring malady." Defining his artistic objectives as conveying a "feeling" to an audience and making "them sympathetic with it," Shaw declared, "my plays are all propaganda plays." So, Shaw's dramatic work was attempting, in essence, to create sympathy for his political viewpoint and, thereby, gain converts to the system he felt could best improve the world.

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