Arms and the Man

About the book

Raina Petkoff admires the heroism of her fiancé Sergius until a fugitive soldier takes refuge in her room and speaks about war in startlingly practical terms. The Swiss professional Bluntschli values survival, competence, and provisions in ways that disturb the household's preferred language of honour. His unexpected connection with the family continues to complicate both romantic expectations and social distinctions. Servants as well as their employers recognize opportunities to challenge the places assigned to them. Shaw builds the comedy through the contrast between a grand declaration and the less elevated motive or circumstance behind it. Yet the exposure of pretence also creates room for more workable forms of affection and respect, making the characters' adjustment to reality as important as the joke at their expense.

• Romantic illusion
• War and competence
• Class and ambition

Why read it

For a brisk comedy that tests heroic poses against the practical knowledge of a soldier who wants to stay alive.

Three-act comedy · English text