Write the explanation of the play "Arms And The Man". (Part-4)

Write the explanation of the play “Arms And The Man”. (Part-4)

Ans.

EXPLANATIONS

(16) If you are incapable of gratitude you are incapable of any noble sentiment. Even animals are grateful. Oh, I see now exactly what you think of me! You were not surprised to hear me lie. To you it was something I probably did every day! every hour!! That is how men think of women.

(Act III)

Reference: These lines are spoken by Raina while she is involved in a conversation with Bluntschli.

Context: Raina saves the life of the Swiss soldier Bluntschli and provides him with chocolates to eat, roof for shelter and bed to sleep in. When Bluntschli returns on the pretext of returning Mr. Petkoff’s coat and Raina finds him alone in the library, she goes to him and wants him to feel obliged towards herself. Bluntschli, however says that he is used to his life being saved by different sorts of people and he feels that gratitude is very close to the feeling of hatred. Raina, does not agree with his viewpoint and argues.

Explanation: The sense of obligation is a natural human sentiment and it is really a desirable quality. If one is unable to have gratitude; it, means the fellow is incapable of ever cherishing any noble virtue. Even animals express their gratitude when anybody gives them food to eat or water to drink or he does any other thing for them. Human beings are supposed to be superior to animals but if a man does not have a sense of gratitude he should be regarded as definitely inferior to animals. Raina says that she now realizes what opinion Bluntschli has of her personality. She says she uttered two lies to save his life-one when she denied his presence in her bedroom and second when she told a lie about the chocolate cream pastry. But those lies must have meant nothing for Bluntschli. She suspects that the Swiss has a very poor opinion of her and in fact of the whole female folk. He, therefore, must have felt that Raina being a female must have been habitual of telling lies. She feels disgusted with all the males because they usually think very badly about the members of the fair sex.

(17) Oh, War! War! the dream of patriots and heroes! A fraud, Bluntschli. A hollow sham like love.

(Act III)

Reference: This desperate exclamation comes out of the mouth of the disillusioned Major Sergius Saranoff.

Context: Raina accuses Bluntschli and says that he is responsible for spreading the story of his midnight adventure into Raina’s bedroom. Bluntschli says that he told the story to only one of his friends and he could not have told Sergius about it because the fellow, is dead. He was burnt alive by the Bulgarian soldiers. Then suddenly Sergius cries out.

Explanation: It is a highly disgusting information. Actually war itself is very deplorable. Normally people think that war is a glorious affair. It provides patriots with a chance to prove their love for their nation and gives an opportunity to the brave and the courageous to make a display of their boldness. In reality, however, it is a deceitful affair. All the romantic notions about it are false. Sergius has come to realize the hollowness of the idealistic thoughts about war and he compares it with love professing that they are equally fraud. Sergius has already experienced the emptiness of his concept of higher love. He found himself flirting with Louka immediately after an adoring love scene with Raina and later came to know that Raina was also having a clandestine affair with Bluntschli behind his back. So, he shuns both concluding that they are equally hollow and deceitful.

Note: The passage sums up the theme of the whole play ‘Arms and the Man‘. It indicates towards Shaw’s aim of exposing the stupidity of romantic notions about war and love in which he beautifully succeeds.

(18) I’m a professional soldier: I fight when I have to, and am very glad to get out of it when I haven’t to. You’re only an amateur: you think fighting’s an amusement.

(Act III)

Reference: These lines are spoken by Bluntschli.

Context: When Sergius comes to know about Raina’s clandestine affair with Bluntschli through Louka, he becomes furious and challenges the Swiss for a duel. Later however, he refuses to fight and asks Bluntschli whether he knows the reason why he is not prepared to fight with him. In reply Bluntschli tells him that he does not know the reason and does not even want to know. Then he explains his viewpoint in the following words.

Explanation: Bluntschli says that he is a soldier by profession. He has been fighting for a very long time now and has come to understand the reality of wars. War, no longer, appears to him an exciting game. He is not a coward so does not shrink away from it when it is thrust upon him by someone but if war is not necessary he feels happy not to be involved in it. Comparing himself with Sergius he says that the Bulgarian is not an experienced fellow in this respect. The reality of war has not been comprehended by him so war looks to him a romantic sport which provides him with excitement and entertainment.

Notes: It is actually Shaw speaking through the mouth of Bluntschli deploring war and chiding its exponents.

(19) You shall hear the reason all the same, my professional. The reason is that it takes two men-real men-men of heart, blood and honour-to make a genuine combat. I could no more fight with you than I could make love to an ugly woman. You’ve no magnetism; you’re not a man: you’re a machine.

(Act III)

Reference: The words are uttered by Major Sergius Saranoff.

Context: Sergius comes to know about Bluntschli’s nocturnal adventure in Raina’s bedroom. He gets wrathful and challenges Bluntschli for a duel. But later he refuses to fight with him and in the given extract explains his viewpoint.

Explanation: Sergius tells Bluntschli that he will have to hear from him the reason why he refuses to be involved in a duel with him whether Bluntschli likes it or not. Bluntschli called himself a professional fighter and Sergius an amateur so Sergius here satirically addresses him as ‘my professional’ Sergius says that reason behind his refusal is that a duel should be fought between two human beings having equal courage and excitement in their hearts, equal warmth in their blood and equal desire to protect their honour. But Bluntschli seems to be lacking in all these qualities. Nothing seems to excite him, he seems to do everything in cold blood and even when somebody insults him he does not get perturbed. Sergius, therefore, concludes that the Swiss is not a human being a prey to usual emotions. He is a machine having no real sentiments. Sergius, therefore, finds it impossible for himself to fight against him and considers it to be as impossible for himself as he would ever be involved in a romantic affair with a woman who is not charming in appearance.

Note: Sergius’s attitude towards both war and love seems still to be inflicted with romanticism.