This paper concentrates on Shaw's understanding of history as it is manifest in his chronicle play
Saint Joan. The attempted examination will be carried out along three aspects which are quite
clearly discernible yet closely intertwined. Broadly speaking, these aspects could be called:
1. The historical; finding out how close is Shaw to the historical facts of which he was in full
knowledge.
2. The dramatic; leaving aside the obvious "Stage Limits of Historical Representation" (Shaw's
own wording in the Preface to the play) it shall be shown how Shaw exploits optimally the
dramatic potential of Joan's story.
3. The didactic; this term being used for the sake of argument to cover Shaw's social, political
and moral concerns.
In the following chapters these three aspects will be shown in their mutual relation whereby
attention will be paid to the question of their eventual hierarchy. What was Shaw's main goal
when writing Saint Joan? Did he intend to tell what happened in France in the first half of the
15th century? Did he want to write a parable conveying pungent social criticism without having
to be too explicit? Or did he just feel like writing a good play which Saint Joan undoubtedly is?
In other words, I will try to work out the intentions underlying the interplay of the aspects
mentioned above and show how these are determined by Shaw's weltanschauung, which is to say
by his philosophical/religious conception of the creative evolution.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Shaw’s Attitude to History
3. Philosophical Tradition Shaping Shaw’s Ideas
3.1 The Victorian Heritage
3.2 The Hegelian Influence
4. Shaw’s Adaptations of History
4.1 Departures from History
4.2 Dramatic Effects
5.Questions Concerning the Genre
6. Joan and the Life Force
7.Aesthetic Considerations
8. Joan’s Value for the 20th century
9. Conclusion
10. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines George Bernard Shaw's chronicle play "Saint Joan," exploring how he balances historical fact, dramatic structure, and didactic intent. The study investigates how Shaw adapts historical events to serve his philosophical vision, specifically through the lens of his "Life Force" doctrine and Hegelian influences.
- Analysis of Shaw’s interpretation of historical facts within "Saint Joan."
- The influence of Victorian thought and Hegelian idealism on Shaw’s work.
- Exploration of how Shaw uses anachronisms and dramatic devices to convey his message.
- The manifestation of the "Life Force" concept through the character of Joan of Arc.
- Evaluation of the play's ongoing relevance and social critique in the 20th century.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Philosophical Tradition Shaping Shaw's Ideas
It is worth having a look at the tradition of thought which shaped Shaw's understanding of history. Though Shaw was rather reluctant to admit being indebted in his opinions to any particular historian or philosopher, his dramatic as well as essayistic output shows that a certain amount of influence in this respect is undeniable. One root of Shaw's attitude to history is to be found in certain streams of Victorian thinking, perhaps most notably in the writings of Carlyle (and one does not necessarily have to join George Orwell in his view that Shaw is ”Carlyle and water“). Typically for Shaw, the Victorian historicism, similar to the tradition of the Victorian drama, serves him both as a nourishing soil and as a springboard; the heritage is partly to be digested and partly to be recoiled from. Shaw accepts Carlyle's concept of history as a continuum where no essential distinctions between the past and the present can be drawn and he also shares his sense of relevance of the past to contemporary human experience.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the paper, focusing on the three aspects—historical, dramatic, and didactic—through which "Saint Joan" is analyzed.
2. Shaw’s Attitude to History: Explains that Shaw viewed himself as a playwright rather than a historian, prioritizing his interpretation of historical forces over factual accuracy.
3. Philosophical Tradition Shaping Shaw’s Ideas: Discusses the influence of Victorian thinking and Hegel’s dialectic idealism on Shaw’s ideological framework.
4. Shaw’s Adaptations of History: Analyzes how Shaw manipulates history through anachronisms and dramatic structure to enhance the play's impact.
5. Questions Concerning the Genre: Examines Shaw’s use of farcical and tragic elements, arguing that he blends genres to serve his philosophical agenda.
6. Joan and the Life Force: Investigates the portrayal of Joan as an exponent of the "Life Force" and her role as a symbol for the creative evolution of humanity.
7. Aesthetic Considerations: Explores the poetic and visual techniques Shaw employs, such as the use of motifs and symbolic language.
8. Joan’s Value for the 20th century: Relates the themes of the play to contemporary societal issues and historical parallels.
9. Conclusion: Synthesizes how the historical, dramatic, and didactic aspects interrelate to fulfill Shaw’s intent of using drama as an instrument for social critique.
10. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary literature utilized for this research.
Keywords
George Bernard Shaw, Saint Joan, Life Force, Creative Evolution, Historiography, Hegelian Dialectics, Victorian Era, Dramatic Technique, Chronicle Play, Moral Propaganda, Social Criticism, Canonization, Anachronism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on Shaw's understanding of history as manifested in his play "Saint Joan," examining it through three intertwined lenses: the historical, the dramatic, and the didactic.
What are the central thematic fields explored?
The work covers Shaw's philosophical influences (specifically Hegelian idealism and Victorian historicism), his dramatic techniques, and his theory of the "Life Force" as an evolutionary driver.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine the hierarchy of Shaw's intentions: whether he aimed to represent historical accuracy, create an entertaining drama, or deliver a parable of social criticism.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The study uses literary analysis and historical contextualization, applying a dialectic model to explore how Shaw synthesizes historical facts and dramatic requirements into a coherent didactic work.
What is covered in the main body?
The body examines how Shaw adapts historical facts, his use of anachronisms (such as the Epilogue), the "Life Force" doctrine as embodied by Joan, and the aesthetic devices used to convey his message.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include "Life Force," "Chronicle Play," "Shavianism," "Hegelian Influence," and "Historical Adaptation."
How does the author interpret Joan’s recantation?
The author interprets Joan's recantation not as a sign of weakness, but as a realization that "life as a mere existence" is not sufficient; true life requires freedom and dignity.
What is the significance of the Epilogue according to this paper?
The Epilogue is viewed as a mechanical device to explore the aftermath of Joan's death and to express Shaw's concern regarding the "incorrigibility of mankind."
- Quote paper
- Barbora Sramkova (Author), 1995, The Shavian Web: Three Aspects of "Saint Joan", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/35088
