Whom do you think the Heroine of the G. B. Shaw's Drama, "Arms and The Man"?

Compare and Contrast the Characters of Raina and Lauka

The Marvelous Feminine Characters of G.B. Shaw: A Literary Analysis of Arms and The Man, Saint Joan, and Man and Superman

G. B. Shaw has been pre-occupied mainly with the exposition of his ideas through the media of plays and this has been more so in so far as Arms and The Man is concerned. Characterization or depiction of characters in their full human round has never his forte. But nonetheless the feminine characters created by Shaw are undeniably marvelous. Raina and Louka in "Arms and The Man", Joan in "Saint Joan" and Ann Whitefield in "Man and Superman" are some of the unique creations bearing the impress of Shaw’s mature and superb literary merit.

In "Saint Joan," Shaw brings to life the character of Joan of Arc, a historical figure who defied gender roles and religious conventions. Joan's unwavering faith, courage, and determination make her a captivating figure, transcending the boundaries of time and inspiring generations. Another memorable creation is Ann Whitefield in "Man and Superman." Ann's intelligence, wit, and unconventional views on marriage and relationships make her a captivating presence on stage. Shaw uses Ann as a vehicle to explore societal norms and challenge the traditional roles assigned to women.

In "Arms and The Man," Shaw presents us two with Raina and Louka, two women who exhibit depth and complexity beyond societal expectations. Raina, the romantic idealist, undergoes a transformation as she confronts the realities of war and questions her own beliefs. Louka, on the other hand, represents a different kind of strength—a strong-willed and independent woman who challenges societal norms.

The Transformation of Raina Petkoff: Unveiling the True Feminine Charm in Arms and The Man

The central theme of "Arms and The Man" revolves around Raina Petkoff. In fact, Shaw’s aim in this play is to show how a romantic sentimental girl, full of idealistic notions about war, shakes off her illusions and accepts the commonsense views of a commonplace professional soldier and instead of marrying the romantic fool of a hero, she marries the real hero, a plain, common soldier who views things in the light of common day. Born of rich parents and bred in the lap of luxury, Raina has her character and out look shaped by her own peculiar circumstances of life. 

Polite, genteel and decorous in behaviour, Raina is witty, lively and pleasant in her conversation. She has a quick-grasping intellect with a wonderful presence of mind. But she is romantic and sentimental by her education and upbringing. The romantic literature and thrilling operas have stocked her imagination with visions of romantic love and adventure. She believes them to be real, through not without a tinge of skepticism and dreams to have them realized in life. But it is to be remembered that Raina’s romantic sentimentalism is no essential part of her nature. It is but a mere pose. She wears cloak of romance to hide her real self. She is essentially a woman, every inch of her. She is frank and simple and is full of pity and generosity. She has womanly reserve, dignity of carriage and sense of decency and self respect. These give her character a true feminine charm. 

Through Raina's journey, Shaw aims to challenge the societal notions of romanticism and idealism, showcasing the importance of embracing realism and pragmatism. Raina's encounter with a plain, common soldier challenges her preconceived notions of heroism and love, leading her to reevaluate her beliefs and ultimately make a transformative choice.

"The Transformation of Raina Petkoff" drives through the multifaceted layers of Raina's character, highlighting her evolution from a romantic fool to a woman who embraces the true essence of heroism and finds love in unexpected places. Shaw's exploration of Raina's journey sheds light on the complexities of human nature, the power of self-discovery, and the resilience of the feminine spirit.

The Contrasting Feminine Forces: Raina and Louka in Arms and The Man

Lauka is a foil to Raina. She is an uneducated country girl, the daughter of poor farmer. She has no utter but she has learned to be polished and elegant like a lady. She has no romantic illusions like Raina. She is endowed with a strong common sense and practical wisdom. Though a servant girl she has no servile mentality. She is proud insolent and swaggering. She is always defiant to Raina. Louka differs from Raina in having a strong common sense and practical wisdom. She has a sense of reality which Raina lives in the world of imagination. Louka is proud, insolent and swaggering but Raina is polite, gentle and decorous. Again artful and ambitions Louka differs from simple and unambitions Raina. Despite of her engagement with Nicola, Louka sneers at him for his servile mentality.  It is she who pursues Sergius with an ambitions design. She artful exercises all her feminine charms to tempt him to marry her. To achieve her end she becomes so mean as to make unscrupulous use to Raina’s secrets about captain Bluntschli. Here she differs from Raina who, in spite of her amorous sentiment for Captain Bluntschli, never thinks of any design nor is capable of doing ‘a base deed’ or thinking ‘an ignoble thought.’

Being quit sure of her ground, Louka slowly but steadily leads the infatuated Sergius to be a willing victim to her guile.   By a clever design she creates a situation in which Sergius is compelled to take her as his life’s partner. Thus she becomes Raina’s ‘equal’ and one of the prospective ‘grandest customers’ of Nicola.

Conclusion: Transformation and Realization in Arms and The Man

Thus both Raina and Louka are two important characters in the play. The study of their contrasting attitude is integrated in the play. But while judging who is qualified as the heroine of the play it is obviously Raina who is the centre of action and interest in the play. The action beings and ends with her. It deals with her complete disenchantment from her romantic illusions of war, heroism and love and her final conversion from romance to realism. Louka, on the other hand, is introduced in the play to serve a specific interest in the plot. It is to wean Sergius away from Raina so that Raina may be free to marry Captain Bluntschli whom she really loves. Louka’s claim to be the heroine of the play is untenable. It does not bear scrutiny.

To Sum up our Discussion:

•  Raina, the daughter of a wealthy Bulgarian family, is romantic, idealistic, and deeply entrenched in the idea of chivalry. In contrast, Louka is a pragmatic, rebellious, and opportunistic servant in the Petkoff household.
• As for the heroine of the play, it is undoubtedly Raina. Although Louka is a crucial character, she plays a supporting role in the plot and serves as a foil to Raina. Raina's character development throughout the play is central to the story's themes and message.
• Raina's character embodies the romanticized ideals of war and heroism prevalent in her society. However, as the play progresses, she begins to realize the harsh reality of war and the deception of her beliefs. Her transformation from an idealistic young girl to a mature woman is the heart of the play, making her the true heroine.
• Louka's character serves to challenge Raina's beliefs and to question the class structures of society. While her storyline is essential to the plot, she does not undergo the same level of transformation as Raina, making her a secondary character.

Ardhendu De   

References

1. Full text of “Arms and the man; an anti-romantic comedy in three acts.” (n.d.). Full Text of “Arms and the Man; an Anti-romantic Comedy in Three Acts.” https://archive.org/stream/armsthemanantiro00shawuoft/armsthemanantiro00shawuoft_djvu.txt

2. George Bernard Shaw | Biography, Plays, & Facts. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-Bernard-Shaw