What role does Catherine play in revealing the ideas of Shaw in this

What role does Catherine play in revealing the ideas of Shaw in this play?

Ans.

Catherine is the wife of Major Petkoff and the mother of the heroine Raina. Both mother and daughter are made of the same stuff and share many of their qualities but there seems to be an overdose of artificiality, conventionality and formality in the personality of the mother which is lacking in that of the daughter. She is described by Shaw as “a woman over forty, imperiously energetic, with magnificient black hair and eye, who might be a very splendid specimen of a mountain farmer, but is determined to be a Viennese lady and to that end wears a fashionable tea gown on all occasions. She looks astonishingly handsome and stately under all circumstances.”

(1) Romantic: Catherine Petkoff is thoroughly romantic in her attitude towards war and love. She eulogizes the heroism and grandeur attached to the profession of a soldier and speaks exultantly about Sergius’s cavalry charge-“Sergius is the hero of the hour, the idol of the regiment……. You can’t guess how splendid it is.” She visualizes the whole event and describes it with a typically romantic enthusiasm-“can’t you see it, Raina: our gallant splendid Bulgarians with their swords and eyes flashing, thundering down like an avalanche and scattering the wretched serbs.” She has a great regard for Sergius and feels shocked when Raina says that she had doubts regarding Sergius heroism.

(2) Domineering Mother: Catherine Petkoff loves her daughter Raina very much but at the same time she does not hesitate to scold her or chide her when she feels that Raina’s behaviour is not upto the mark. When Raina expresses her doubts regarding Sergius’s worth as a soldier she feels indignant and says that Raina should be ashamed of herself. When Raina requests that the shutters should be left open and promises to close them a bit later. Catherine very authoritatively says. “Oh no, dear: You must keep them fastened. You would be sure to drop off to sleep and leave them open. Make them fast, Louka.” Later when Raina calls her in bedroom to have a look at the fugitive and decide the right course of action about him; Catherine finds him fast asleep. She tries to wake him up and so shakes him hard. Raina, then, requests her to let “the poor darling” rest. This epithet of “poor darling” for the fugitive shocks Catherine and she immediately chides her daughter. Catherine wants her daughter to grow up as a well disciplined girl. She hates Raina’s habit of eavesdropping and expresses disgust. Similarly when Raina asks a question about the physical appearance of the Swiss soldier whose story is being narrated by Sergius, Catherine is very quick to object,” Oh. Raina, what a silly question !” When Raina behaves with real impertinence and insults her mother openly, Catherine’s fingers start itching. She feels like beating her and says-“Oh, if you were only ten years younger!” But still none can deny that she is a very loving mother really concerned that her daughter gets a good, rich husband so that she is able to spend her life in comfort and luxury. She says to Bluntschli severely, “My daughter, sir, is accustomed to a first, rate stable” and gives her consent for Raina’s marriage with Bluntschli only after she is fully convinced of his affluence.

(3) Dominating wife: Catherine comes before us not only as a domineering mother but also as a dominating wife. She has almost henpecked her husband and scolds him openly. Mr. Petkoff is merely the ceremonial head of the family. Catherine interferes with his decision as a military officer too-“Catherine (springing erect with flashing eyes) Paul. Have, you let the Austrians force you to make peace ?

Petkoff (submissively) My dear: they did not consult me. What could I do ?…….” She feels outraged that her husband has agreed to establish peace with the enemies and shouts “You could have annexed Serbia and made Prince Alexander Emperor of the Balkans. That’s what I would have done.” Actually in all the matters whether concerned with the household or the family Major Petkoff seems to have no authority, no voice, no say. Her husband is so much dependent, upon her that he seeks her help even to control his subordinates. When her husband disturbs Bluntschli by constantly making offers of help she warns him in a low tone, “You can stop interrupting Paul.” Petkoff seems to be a bit terrified of her and time and again hastily explains his deeds for her appeasement. She does not even allow Petkoff to express his mind and does so for him. “That is Major Petkoff’s feeling also.” So much so that even Raina makes fun of their relationship “Oh, poor father! As if he could help himself.” But she really loves her husband and feels gratified when he says that he missed Catherine greatly in the war-field.

(4) Able Mistress: Catherine, however, is a competent manager of the household affairs. She keeps her servant under discipline and even in the absence of Major Petkoff keeps it running safely. She speaks even to the Russian officer who is searching for Bluntschli in a commanding tone. In the Petkoff house, the servants are so much afraid of their mistress that they always take care to observe discipline in their behaviour and performance of duties. Nicola says about her, “Be warned in time. Louka: mend your manners. I know the mistress. She is so grand that she never dreams that any servant could dare be disrespectful to her but if she once suspects that you are defying her, out you go.”

(5) Polished Habits and Fashionable dresses: Catherine is a great admirer of modern culture and feels proud to have adopted refined habits and polished ways of living. She bathes daily and tries to emulate the ways of the civilized people to the best of her capacity. She has had an electric bell installed in her house because, “civilized people never shout for their servants. I’ve learnt that while you were away.” She is very fond of attending the opera and the dance and such other gaieties of modern life. She takes special care of her appearance and tries to be fashionably dressed always. She always wears a fashionable tea gown and tries to behave like a Viennese lady. Before receiving Bluntschli she “snatches her apron off and throws it behind a bush. She then takes up the silver and uses it as a mirror with the result that the handkerchief tied round her head follows the apron. A touch to her hair and a shake to her dressing gown make her presentable.”

(6) Snob: Catherine Petkoff is a snobbish lady very much conscious of her family traditions and family status just like the other members of her family. She feels really annoyed when Louka addresses her daughter as “Raina” instead of “Miss Raina”. She says to Bluntschli, “I doubt, Sir, whether you quite realize my daughter’s position or that of Major Saranoff whose place you propose to take. The Petkoffs and the Saranoffs are known as the richest and most important families in the country. Our position is almost historical we can go back for twenty years.”

(7) One Weakness: Catherine is in possession of several appreciable merits but at the same time suffers from one weakness which is a very serious one. She lacks in the capacity to peep inside the human character. On account of this deficiency she fails to comprehend the realities about Sergius as well as Louka and also cannot be said to have really understood the personality of Bluntschli. She fails to detect the fun or the mischief behind any of the actions or words. Shaw has depicted her character with the invention of demonstrating the absurdity of the romantic conceptions and stupidity of the neo-rich, pseudo-aristocratic ladies.