I haven’t read much of English drama. But of the small lot I have read, the one stands out is Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw. I read it during my +2 years.. although I didn’t had much time then.. I completed it with in 2-3 days.. Still its my favorite.. The best book I have read.. got a nice storyline....
The story goes lik this... (Courtesy http://www.litencyc.com )
The play takes place in Bulgaria in1885 during a war between Bulgarians and Serbs. The main female character, Raina Petkoff, is in her bedroom and is elated that the Bulgarians have defeated the Serbs through a heroic cavalry charge led by her fiancé, Sergius. A Swiss professional soldier, Captain Bluntschli, who has been fighting on the Serb side and is fleeing from the victorious Bulgarians, enters her bedroom. After his pursuers have gone he and Raina discuss the recent battle. To Raina's consternation he calls Sergius an idiot who would undoubtedly have led the Bulgarians to disaster if the Serbs had not been given the wrong ammunition. He is quite unperturbed at being called a coward by Raina and falls asleep on her bed. The second act takes place after the war is over. Though Raina and Sergius declare eternal love for each other both are only acting out a romantic ideal that has little relation to their real feelings. Sergius soon begins flirting with the maid Louka, who does not repel his advances even though she is engaged to another servant, Nicola. Bluntschli enters to return a coat he has borrowed from the Petkoffs. Now that the war is over he is welcomed by Sergius and Raina's father, Major Petkoff. In Act 3, Bluntschli shows he's expert at military tasks such as organising troop movements, unlike Sergius. He makes fun of Raina's romantic posturing. A letter arrives informing him that his father has died and that he must return to Switzerland. When Louka tells Sergius about Raina and Bluntschli, Sergius challenges him to a duel. Bluntschli takes this calmly but Sergius finally rejects his romantic ideals and declares his intention to marry Louka. When Bluntschli discovers Raina is twenty-three and not a teenager as he had thought he quickly asks her parents for her hand in marriage. When they find out how wealthy he is, they agree, and after some token resistance Raina submits.
On the plot level, Arms and the Man is a successful, and somewhat unique, romantic comedy. The young, melodramatic, and rather superficial Raina comes from a military family deeply involved in a war, her fiancé and her father both being officers. She is surprised, though, one night by the arrival of an enemy soldier. She rescues him, knowing that she'll have to keep the episode a secret from her family forever, and the soldier eventually leaves. Of course, once the war is over, that soldier comes back, forcing each of the primary characters to reevaluate their values and their relationships.
The best part of the play according to me is the climax scene.. Jus go through the dialogues. they r really superb..
RAINA (in uncontrollable vexation). I quite agree with your
account of yourself. You are a romantic idiot. (Bluntschli is
unspeakably taken aback.) Next time I hope you will know the
difference between a schoolgirl of seventeen and a woman of
twenty-three.
BLUNTSCHLI (stupefied). Twenty-three! (She snaps the photograph
contemptuously from his hand; tears it across; and throws the
pieces at his feet.)
SERGIUS (with grim enjoyment of Bluntschli's discomfiture).
Bluntschli: my one last belief is gone. Your sagacity is a
fraud, like all the other things. You have less sense than even
I have.
BLUNTSCHLI (overwhelmed). Twenty-three! Twenty-three!! (He
considers.) Hm! (Swiftly making up his mind.) In that case,
Major Petkoff, I beg to propose formally to become a suitor for
your daughter's hand, in place of Major Saranoff retired.
RAINA. You dare!
BLUNTSCHLI. If you were twenty-three when you said those things
to me this afternoon, I shall take them seriously.
CATHERINE (loftily polite). I doubt, sir, whether you quite
realize either my daughter's position or that of Major Sergius
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 nearly twenty years.
PETKOFF. Oh, never mind that, Catherine. (To Bluntschli.) We
should be most happy, Bluntschli, if it were only a question of
your position; but hang it, you know, Raina is accustomed to a
very comfortable establishment. Sergius keeps twenty horses.
BLUNTSCHLI. But what on earth is the use of twenty horses? Why,
it's a circus.
CATHERINE (severely). My daughter, sir, is accustomed to a
first-rate stable.
RAINA. Hush, mother, you're making me ridiculous.
BLUNTSCHLI. Oh, well, if it comes to a question of an
establishment, here goes! (He goes impetuously to the table and
seizes the papers in the blue envelope.) How many horses did you
say?
SERGIUS. Twenty, noble Switzer!
BLUNTSCHLI. I have two hundred horses. (They are amazed.) How
many carriages?
SERGIUS. Three.
BLUNTSCHLI. I have seventy. Twenty-four of them will hold twelve
inside, besides two on the box, without counting the driver and
conductor. How many tablecloths have you?
SERGIUS. How the deuce do I know?
BLUNTSCHLI. Have you four thousand?
SERGIUS. NO.
BLUNTSCHLI. I have. I have nine thousand six hundred pairs of
sheets and blankets, with two thousand four hundred eider-down
quilts. I have ten thousand knives and forks, and the same
quantity of dessert spoons. I have six hundred servants. I have
six palatial establishments, besides two livery stables, a tea
garden and a private house. I have four medals for distinguished
services; I have the rank of an officer and the standing of a
gentleman; and I have three native languages. Show me any man in
Bulgaria that can offer as much.
PETKOFF (with childish awe). Are you Emperor of Switzerland?
BLUNTSCHLI. My rank is the highest known in Switzerland: I'm a
free citizen.
CATHERINE. Then Captain Bluntschli, since you are my daughter's
choice, I shall not stand in the way of her happiness. (Petkoff
is about to speak.) That is Major Petkoff's feeling also.
PETKOFF. Oh, I shall be only too glad. Two hundred horses! Whew!
SERGIUS. What says the lady?
RAINA (pretending to sulk). The lady says that he can keep his
tablecloths and his omnibuses. I am not here to be sold to the
highest bidder.
BLUNTSCHLI. I won't take that answer. I appealed to you as a
fugitive, a beggar, and a starving man. You accepted me. You
gave me your hand to kiss, your bed to sleep in, and your roof
to shelter me--
RAINA (interrupting him). I did not give them to the Emperor of
Switzerland!
BLUNTSCHLI. That's just what I say. (He catches her hand quickly
and looks her straight in the face as he adds, with confident
mastery) Now tell us who you did give them to.
RAINA (succumbing with a shy smile). To my chocolate cream
soldier!
BLUNTSCHLI (with a boyish laugh of delight). That'll do. Thank
you. (Looks at his watch and suddenly becomes businesslike.)
Time's up, Major. You've managed those regiments so well that
you are sure to be asked to get rid of some of the Infantry of
the Teemok division. Send them home by way of Lom Palanka.
Saranoff: don't get married until I come back: I shall be here
punctually at five in the evening on Tuesday fortnight. Gracious
ladies--good evening. (He makes them a military bow, and goes.)
SERGIUS. What a man! What a man!
(Last line of the play)
Yes..i know they are quite lengthy.. But they are splendid.. I love that scene..
BLUNTSCHLI is superb character sketched by Shaw.. a soldier who does not carry pistol cartridges, but chocolates..During the course of the play, Raina comes to realize the hollowness of her romantic idea and her fiancé's values, and the true nobility of the "chocolate-cream soldier."..
It’s a very nice play.. so guys if u haven’t tried it ..plzz give a try..
The ebook can be found at this link
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/3618
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext03/rmsmn10.txt
It has got a movie version too.. Old film so don’t think I‘ll find it here..
BLUNTSCHLI will remain in ur heart forever..
