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Research Paper | Aerospace Engineering | Saudi Arabia | Volume 6 Issue 12, December 2017

Sarcasm in Arms and the Man

Abdalatif Ali

Abstract: In his literary work, George Bernard Shaw covered various topics addressing the social and political aspects of the British community. He shed considerable light on many issues about human social life. George Bernard Shaw is widely recognized for his dramatic views and stances against the government, as he spent his entire life seeking peoples rights whether verbally or written. George Bernard Shaw enriched English literature with his masterpiece writings. Moreover, his works, particularly plays, entertain his audience greatly due to the symbolic messages embedded into the plots. For example, Arms and the Man is one of his state-of-art comedy plays in which various social themes are portrayed sarcastically. He also intended to deliver a special message to the soldiers of that time represented by the play male characters. Furthermore, he expressed his views of fighting societal traditions and customs that do not fit todays norms. For example, the engagement of Sergius (master) to Louka (the servant) represents typical sarcasm and irony of Bernard Shaw. The playwright was very creative in writing an interestingly sarcastic and ironic play. One of the scenes that often attracts readers attentions is when Petkoff despises his wife because pieces of underwear spread out all over the bushes among visitors. Then, she scorns him when he shouts at the servant telling him that civilized people never shout at their servants. The servants then scorn each other as Nicola tells Louka that she should have known how to trim her nails. Then, Louka replies to him you sell your manhood for money. Raina calls the fugitive a chocolate-cream soldier, because he takes chocolate in his pockets in the battle field instead of ammunition. This term has since been used as a pejorative military term for describing a coward soldier.

Keywords: sarcasm, George Bernard Shaw, Sergius, Louka

Edition: Volume 6 Issue 12, December 2017,

Pages: 318 - 320