Table of contents
1. Introduction 1
2. Joan of Arc, the historical figure 2
3. Brief biography of Schiller and Shaw 3
George Bernard Shaw 3
Friedrich Schiller 4
4. Summary of the two plots 5
G.B. Shaw´s “Saint Joan” 5
Friedrich Schiller´s “The Maid of Orleans” 6
5. Analysis 8
Joan´s outward appearance 8
Joan´s voices and visions 9
Joan´s mission 10
Joan´s downfall 11
6. Shaw´s basic ideas and his criticism on Schiller´s play 13
7. Conclusion 15
8. Bibliography 17
Introduction
I write this essay within the scope of the seminar „History, Religion and the Modern Drama”. The drama “Saint Joan” by George Bernard Shaw was one of the major works we took a closer look at in the course of the semester and analysed from different points of view. The tragic work, which has been considered one of Shaw’s greatest and most important ones, has been hailed as being intellectually exciting and praised for dealing with important themes as nationalism, war, and the relation of the individual to society. The play certainly solidified Shaw's reputation as a major playwright.
Without any doubt “Saint Joan” is a very complex work, which offers a wide range of aspects open to interpretation. I decided to focus on the way Shaw depicts the character of Joan, because - apart from the historically picture of her person and the circumstances of her time - Shaw manages to interlace his own ideas on progress, nationalism and religion into the character of Joan. Therefore analysing her person and the role she fulfils within the drama is of central importance to get access to Shaw’s main ideas. Aside from the analysis of Joan’s character in G. B. Shaw’s drama, I decided to draw a comparison between Shaw´s main figure and the way Friedrich Schiller portrays the character of Johanna in his work “The Maid of Orleans”, which appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. Even though these two works both deal with the historical figure Joan of Arc, there are some huge differences not only concerning the portrayal of the historical events, but excessively so concerning the depiction of Joan’s character. These distinctions can certainly be ascribed to the particular features of Romanticism on the one hand, which is at the core of Schiller´s work, and early Modernism on the other hand, which is at the bottom of Shaw’s drama.
1. INTRODUCTION
2. JOAN OF ARC, THE HISTORICAL FIGURE
3. BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF SHAW AND SCHILLER
3.1. George Bernard Shaw
3.2. Friedrich Schiller
4. SUMMARY OF THE TWO PLOTS
4.1 G.B. Shaw´s „Saint Joan“
4.2 Friedrich Schiller´s „The Maid of Orleans“
5. ANALYSIS
5.1. Joan´s outward appearance
5.2. Joan´s voices and visions
5.3. Joan´s mission
5.4. Joan´s downfall
6. SHAW´S BASIC IDEAS AND HIS CRITICISM ON SCHILLER´S PLAY
7. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This essay explores the characterization of Joan of Arc in George Bernard Shaw’s "Saint Joan" and Friedrich Schiller’s "The Maid of Orleans," analyzing how both authors interpret the historical figure through the lenses of early Modernism and Romanticism respectively.
- Comparative analysis of Shaw’s and Schiller’s portrayals of Joan of Arc.
- Examination of how historical context and literary movements (Romanticism vs. Modernism) shape character depiction.
- Discussion of Joan’s mission, visions, and inner conflict within the dramatic framework.
- Critique of Shaw’s rejection of Schiller’s romanticized interpretation.
- Exploration of thematic elements such as nationalism, religion, and individuality.
Excerpt from the Book
5.1. Joan´s outward appearance
In contrast to Schiller, Shaw does not portray Joan as a conventional beauty. He describes her very detailed as an „able-bodied country girl of 17 or 18, respectably dressed in red, with an uncommon face; eyes very wide apart and bulging as they often do in very imaginative people, a long well-shaped nose with wide nostrils, a short upper lip,resolute but full-lipped mouth, and handsome fighting chin.“ (Scene I)
This quite androgynous description might be linked to the fact that real beauty would be related to a typical female behaviour, which Joan – obviosly – is not meant to represent. Apparantly Shaw wants to mirror some features of Joan´s personality in her outward appearance. He stresses her chin, which alludes to her courage and shows her as a fighting woman with a strong sense of purpose and determination. The fact that she is dressed in red, a colour with assosiations of passion and vitality, reinforces this impression.
The reference to her eyes is indicative of her imaginative power.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the scope of the study, the objective to compare Shaw's and Schiller's works, and the methodological approach.
2. JOAN OF ARC, THE HISTORICAL FIGURE: Provides a historical overview of the life of Joan of Arc, the political conflict in 15th-century France, and her trial.
3. BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF SHAW AND SCHILLER: Details the lives and backgrounds of the two playwrights to explain the influences behind their literary works.
4. SUMMARY OF THE TWO PLOTS: Offers a concise narrative summary of G.B. Shaw’s "Saint Joan" and Friedrich Schiller’s "The Maid of Orleans."
5. ANALYSIS: Performs an in-depth comparison of physical portrayal, visions, mission, and the tragic downfall of the protagonist in both plays.
6. SHAW´S BASIC IDEAS AND HIS CRITICISM ON SCHILLER´S PLAY: Analyzes Shaw's philosophical views and his specific criticisms regarding Schiller's romanticized version of Joan.
7. CONCLUSION: Synthesizes findings, emphasizing the different impacts of both authors and the author's personal preference for Shaw’s modern approach.
Keywords
Joan of Arc, George Bernard Shaw, Friedrich Schiller, Saint Joan, The Maid of Orleans, literary comparison, Romanticism, Modernism, historical drama, heresy, nationalism, religious visions, character analysis, French history, tragedy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines how Joan of Arc is depicted as a literary character in the plays of George Bernard Shaw and Friedrich Schiller, comparing their interpretations within their respective artistic movements.
What are the primary themes discussed throughout the study?
Central themes include the interpretation of historical events, the conflict between individual belief and state/church power, the influence of Romanticism versus Modernism, and the portrayal of feminine identity.
What is the central research question?
The research seeks to analyze how the distinct philosophical and historical contexts of the early 19th and early 20th centuries led to vastly different portrayals of the same historical heroine.
Which methodology is employed in this work?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, contrasting the character development, plot structures, and authorial intents found in the primary sources against historical records.
What content is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body focuses on a structural comparison covering the visual depiction of the character, the role of her voices and visions, her mission, and the eventual tragic downfall of Joan.
What characterizes the terminology used in this study?
The work utilizes literary analysis terminology, historical references to the Hundred Years' War, and concepts related to dramatic theory, such as character traits and narrative structure.
Why does Shaw consider his Epilogue essential to the play "Saint Joan"?
Shaw argues that the Epilogue is necessary to emphasize that Joan’s influence did not end with her death, ensuring the audience sees her relevance as a living legacy rather than a past relic.
How does the author characterize the difference in "worldview" between Schiller and Shaw?
The author identifies Schiller’s work as being rooted in Romanticism, focusing on emotional inner struggles, while characterizing Shaw’s drama as early Modernist, focusing on social issues, historical truth, and satire.
- Quote paper
- Alexandra Stoichita (Author), 2007, Joan of Arc in G.B. Shaw´s "Saint Joan" and Friedrich Schiller´s "The Maid of Orleans", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/87049
