Heartbreak House: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 18:16, 17 May 2006

You must add a |reason= parameter to this Cleanup template – replace it with {{Cleanup|May 2005|reason=<Fill reason here>}}, or remove the Cleanup template.

In the words of A. C. Ward, in his introduction to Bernard Shaw's play Heartbreak House, 'the prime theme...was, that "cultured, leisured Europe" (words used at the beginning of the Preface) was drifting to destruction because those in a position to guide it to safety had failed to learn their proper business of political navigation'; (164). Heartbreak House itself is a microcosm of Europe at the time of World War One. The house can also be seen as a ship which must be guided capably, not only by its crew, but also its passengers. Shaw makes use of the contrast between Mazzini Dunn and his employer 'Boss' Mangan to illustrate the point that society in England and Continental Europe followed the lead of those who were not capable of leading it in the right direction.

Mazzini Dunn is an idealist character in the play. Mazzini is described by Ward as 'representing the idealists who have fine thoughts and valuable ideas, but not the practical business ability that would enable them to translate thoughts and ideas into productive activity' (156). This character is set in contrast to Mazzini's employer Alfred Mangan, who is soon to marry Mazzini's daughter. Mangan is summarized as representing the "so-called realists who know that money is power, power that enables them to turn into profit for themselves the thoughts and ideas of the idealist" (156). Dunn is given the opportunity to succeed in business by Mangan, who later bankrupts Dunn and eventually takes over the business once it has become robust. The ideas and enthusiasm are from Dunn but he lacks the knowledge and ability to take the business past its initial stages.

Mazzini is seen as being very kind hearted and munificent but ineffectual. Mangan is seen for the most part as being egotistical and unscrupulous but influential. Shaw points out to us that "modern civilisation tends to make well-meaning, generous, and scrupulous people futile, and mean-spirited; self-seeking, money worshipping people powerful" (156). Shaw's belief seems to be that the latter are in control and sailing towards the rocks as a result of their own folly, whereas the former should be taking the helm, but do not have the aptitude to do so. Mazzini seems to highlight this inability in a conversation with Captain Shotover:

Mazzini: I often feel that there is a great deal to be said for the theory of an overruling providence, after all.

Captain Shotover: Every drunken skipper trusts to providence. But one of the ways of providence with drunken skippers is to run them on the rocks (140).

Mazzini's belief in fate ruling his life reinforces his feeble ability to control his situation and according to the captain dooms the ship to destruction unless competent navigation can be learned:

Captain Shotover: Navigation. Learn it and live; or leave it and be damned (141).

Reference

Shaw, Bernard. Heartbreak House A Fantasia in the Russian Manner on English Themes. With an Introduction and notes by Ward, A.C. London: Longmans Green and Co Ltd. 1961

Template:Shaw

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{cleanup-date|May 2005}}
-In the words of [[A. C. Ward]] in his introduction to [[George Bernard Shaw|Bernard Shaw]]&#8217;s play '''''Heartbreak House''''' &#8216;the prime theme&#8230; was, that "cultured, leisured Europe" (words used at the beginning of the Preface) was drifting to destruction because those in a position to guide it to safety had failed to learn their proper business of political navigation&#8217; (164). Heartbreak House itself is a microcosm of Europe at the time of World War One. The house can also be seen as a ship which must be guided capably not only by its crew but also its passengers.  Shaw makes use of the contrast between Mazzini Dunn and his employer &#8216;Boss&#8217; Mangan to illustrate the point that society in England and Continental Europe followed the lead of those who were not capable of leading in the right direction.
+In the words of [[A. C. Ward]], in his introduction to [[George Bernard Shaw|Bernard Shaw]]'s play '''''Heartbreak House''''', 'the prime theme...was, that "cultured, leisured Europe" (words used at the beginning of the Preface) was drifting to destruction because those in a position to guide it to safety had failed to learn their proper business of political navigation'; (164). Heartbreak House itself is a microcosm of Europe at the time of World War One. The house can also be seen as a ship which must be guided capably, not only by its crew, but also its passengers.  Shaw makes use of the contrast between Mazzini Dunn and his employer 'Boss' Mangan to illustrate the point that society in England and Continental Europe followed the lead of those who were not capable of leading it in the right direction.
-Mazzini Dunn is in this play the idealist. Mazzini is described by Ward as &#8216;representing the idealists who have fine thoughts and valuable ideas but not the practical business ability that would enable them to translate thoughts and ideas into productive activity&#8217; (156). This character is set in contrast to Mazzini&#8217;s  employer Alfred Mangan who will soon marry Mazzini&#8217;s daughter. Mangan is summarized as representing the "so-called realists who know that money is power, power that enables them to turn into profit for themselves the thoughts and ideas of the idealist" (156). Dunn is given the opportunity to succeed in business by Mangan who later bankrupts Dunn and eventually takes over the business once it has become robust. The idea and enthusiasm are from Dunn but he lacks the knowledge and ability to take the business past its initial stages.
+Mazzini Dunn is an idealist character in the play. Mazzini is described by Ward as 'representing the idealists who have fine thoughts and valuable ideas, but not the practical business ability that would enable them to translate thoughts and ideas into productive activity' (156). This character is set in contrast to Mazzini's  employer Alfred Mangan, who is soon to marry Mazzini's daughter. Mangan is summarized as representing the "so-called realists who know that money is power, power that enables them to turn into profit for themselves the thoughts and ideas of the idealist" (156). Dunn is given the opportunity to succeed in business by Mangan, who later bankrupts Dunn and eventually takes over the business once it has become robust. The ideas and enthusiasm are from Dunn but he lacks the knowledge and ability to take the business past its initial stages.
-Mazzini is seen as being very kind hearted and munificent but ineffectual. Mangan is seen for the most part as being egotistical and unscrupulous but influential. Shaw points out to us that  "modern civilisation tends to make well-meaning, generous, and scrupulous people futile, and mean-spirited , self-seeking, money worshipping people powerful" (156). Shaw&#8217;s belief seems to be that the latter are in control and sailing towards the rocks as a result of their own folly whereas the former should be taking the helm but do not have the aptitude to do so. Mazzini seems to highlight this inability In a conversation with Captain Shotover.
+Mazzini is seen as being very kind hearted and munificent but ineffectual. Mangan is seen for the most part as being egotistical and unscrupulous but influential. Shaw points out to us that  "modern civilisation tends to make well-meaning, generous, and scrupulous people futile, and mean-spirited; self-seeking, money worshipping people powerful" (156). Shaw's belief seems to be that the latter are in control and sailing towards the rocks as a result of their own folly, whereas the former should be taking the helm, but do not have the aptitude to do so. Mazzini seems to highlight this inability in a conversation with Captain Shotover:
-Mazzini: I often feel that there is a great deal to be said for the
+:Mazzini: I often feel that there is a great deal to be said for the theory of an overruling providence, after all.
+:
-theory of an overruling providence, after all.
+:Captain Shotover: Every drunken skipper trusts to providence. But one of the ways of providence with drunken skippers is to run them on the rocks (140).
+Mazzini's belief in fate ruling his life reinforces his feeble ability to control his situation and according to the captain dooms the ship to destruction unless competent navigation can be learned:
-Captain Shotover: Every drunken skipper trusts to providence. But one of the ways of providence with drunken skippers is to run them on the rocks (140).
+:Captain Shotover: Navigation. Learn it and live; or leave it and be damned (141).
-Mazzini&#8217;s belief in fate ruling his life reinforces his feeble ability to control his situation and according to the captain dooms the ship to destruction unless competent navigation can be learned.
-Captain Shotover: Navigation. Learn it and live; or leave it and be damned (141).
 ==Reference==