(George) Bernard Shaw(1856-1950)

Bernard ShawShaw hated his first name,

George.No one personally or

professionally called him George.

Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1856 to Poor Protestant parents

Family LifeHis father drank heavily.

Therefore: Shaw becomes a Teetotaller (no alcohol)

Shaw's embarrassing alcoholic father claimed to be descended from Macduff, the slayer of Macbeth.

…

Shaw and siblings (2 sisters) grow up in the care of others.

Father dies in 1885 = none of his children or his wife attends funeral.

…When 16, his family broke up:

Mother moved to London with her daughter for opportunities in music

Scandalous!They set up their home with

mother’s vocal teacher

…Shaw moves in with his

mother and sister in London during the 1870s

He continues to live off of his mother until he marries

EducationEducated at

Wesley College.Wanders

around London, educating himself at the British Museum

Beginning Life in LondonFirst few years: writes 6

novels, only one publishedBecomes music critic on the

Star newspaper.1895, he becomes the drama

critic of the Saturday Review

Set Beliefs …1882: hears a lecture by the

American political theorist Henry GeorgeRest of his life he is deeply involved

in efforts to alter British society through the peaceful redistribution of wealth

Shaw supported abolition of private property, radical change in the voting system, campaigned for the simplification of spelling, and the reform of the English alphabet.

…Served as a local councilor in

the St. Pancras district of London for several years from 1897

He was a noted socialist in the Fabian Society

Happily Ever After?

1898: Marries Charlotte Payne Townshend

AND he finally moves out of his mother’s homeAt the age of 42 …

Quiet Days at home …

Bernard and Charlotte

…

Bernard and Charlotte stay together until Charlotte’s death in 1943.

It is said that their marriage was never consummated.

Mrs. Patrick Campbell

Widow and actress which he carried on a passionate correspondence over several years through his marriage

Shaw even writes the play Pygmalion in 1912 for her

Beatrice Stella Campbell

Mrs. Patrick Campbell

Mrs. Patrick Campbell as Eliza Doolittle

Shaw’s PlaysShaw’s plays pushed the

envelope with his controversial opinions within his playsExample: Widowers’ Houses =

about slum landlords; Mrs. Warren’s Profession = discussion about prostitution.

…

Many plays were refused performance licenses by the official censor because of their contentShaw begins to publish his play

texts; at this time, a very uncommon practice.

In the books, he writes long prefaces and epilogues where he discusses his opinions further.

Shaw believed that modern plays should contain the traditional plot conflict and its resolution as well as a consideration of important problems and suggestions for their resolution

…

1925, Shaw is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature

He accepts the honor but refuses the money

Into the Movies 1938, Shaw writes the

screenplay for Pygmalion Shaw becomes the first and

only man ever to win the Nobel Prize for literature and an Academy Award

Shaw wrote the part of Eliza in Pygmalion for the famous actress Mrs. Patrick Campbell

DeathIn 1950, Shaw fell off a ladder while

trimming a tree on his property at Ayot St. Lawrence in Hertfordshire, outside of London, and died a few days later of complications from the injury, at age 94

“He was a hypochondriac, socialist, anti-vaccinationist, semi-feminist vegetarian who believed in the Life Force and only wore wool”

After Death

1956: Pygmalion is adapted into a musical, My Fair Lady. (Movie 1964)

BBC. Shaw Audio Interview. Available Online: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/audiointerviews/profilepages/shawg1.shtml

Online Brittanica. Nobel Prize Audio Clips. Available Online: http://www.britannica.com/nobel/ind_av.html

Sparknotes. Pygmalion, Study Guide. Available Online: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/pygmalion/context.html

Holt, Rinehart & Winston. “Drama: Bernard Shaw (1856-1950).” Elements of Literature. New York: New York. 1989. Pgs. 1146-1147.

Scott, Foresman & Co. “Biography: Bernard Shaw.” England in Literature. Illinois: Chicago. 1989. Pg. 643.

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Cockney English