‘Plays Pleasant’ is a collection by George Bernard Shaw, including four of his plays categorized by Shaw himself as ‘pleasant’ because they were written to entertain and amuse the audience, in contrast to his more didactic ‘Plays Unpleasant’. The collection, published in 1898, includes ‘Arms and the Man’, ‘Candida’, ‘The Man of Destiny’, and ‘You Never Can Tell’.
Each play showcases Shaw’s sharp wit and satirical prowess, often challenging social norms and class structures. ‘Arms and the Man’ is a comical take on the futility of war and the romanticized notions of heroism. ‘Candida’ questions Victorian notions of love and marriage, focusing on a romantic triangle involving a clergyman, his wife, and a young poet. ‘The Man of Destiny’ presents a fictional encounter between Napoleon Bonaparte and an unusual young woman, while ‘You Never Can Tell’ is a humorous look at family relations, the clash of generations, and the unpredictability of human nature.
These works exemplify Shaw’s unique blend of comedy with a social conscience, making ‘Plays Pleasant’ a significant contribution to modern drama and a testament to Shaw’s enduring legacy as a playwright.
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