The Feminist Shaw: Shaw and the Contemporary Literary Theories of Feminism

This book explores George Bernard Shaw's life and works as a feminist, highlighting his use of realistic theatre to communicate socialist and feminist ideas. It shows how his women characters break free from Victorian notions of femininity, voice self-awareness, and realize their worth, paving the way for future generations of female characters. Shaw's ideologies have been adapted by second- and third-wave feminists, making this volume of interest to scholars and researchers in literature, theatre studies, feminism, freudian studies, and gender studies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 166 pages
Publication date: 25 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the life and remarkable works of George Bernard Shaw, exploring his profound contribution as a feminist visionary. Through a critical examination of his major plays, it unveils how Shaw's works engage with ideas, practices, discourses, and ideologies that laid the foundation for modern feminist movements. While the involvement of male feminists in feminist movements prior to the twentieth century was sporadic, isolated, and relatively unconnected, Shaw utilized the powerful medium of realistic theatre to convey socialist and feminist ideals to his contemporary audience. The volume sheds light on how Shaw, through his plays and prefaces, exposes the injustices endured by women. His female characters defy the Victorian notions of femininity, expressing self-awareness, self-evaluation, and the realization of their personal worth. They break free from the traditional mythical representations in literature, paving the way for future generations of female characters. Shaws women boldly challenge societal stereotypes, fearlessly pursuing their dreams and desires without the constraints of societal judgment. By selecting excerpts from texts such as "Back to Methuselah," "Pygmalion," "Candida," "Arms and the Man," "Saint Joan," "Mrs. Warrens Profession," "Man and Superman," "The Black Girl in Search of God," and "The Simpleton of the Unexpected Isles," this book showcases how Shaw gifted the world with ideologies that have since been embraced by second- and third-wave feminists. By foregrounding Shaw's critical role in strengthening feminist characters in modern literature, this volume holds immense interest for scholars and researchers in the fields of literature and literary criticism, theatre studies, feminism, Freudian studies, and gender studies.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032161952