Introduction
George Bernard Shaw in Act one illustrates male characters to be conservative whereas the female characters are fashioned to be liberal. Mr. Praed is depicted by the author as an aggregate depiction of a conventional man in the Victorian society. This is apparent from the conservation that transpires between him and the young Miss. Vivie. Mr. Praed affirms, “You make my blood run cold. Are you to have no romance, no beauty in your life?” (Shaw 10). The assertion unmistakably highlights the perception of men on women. Men anticipated women to be objects of romance and beauty. Women were expected to fall in love, be married and have children. Women in Victorian society seldom engage in decisive careers such as engineering or actuarial analyst. This was contrary to Vivie. She was a graduate in the field of Mathematics. She was determined to join professional careers that were purely conquered by men. It is obvious that she disliked the manner by which the Victorian society treated women. Vivie is portrayed to be a symbol of liberal women in the Victorian society when she states, “I like working and get paid for it. When I am tired of work, I like comfortable chair, a cigar, a little whiskey and a novel with a good detective story in it” (Shaw 10). This is entirely bewildering to Mr. Praed. The avowal by Vivie simply accentuates a position of a woman who is ready to embrace roles that were left entirely to men. It was recognizable that in the Victorian society women were objects of romance. This simply means that women could not assume some responsibilities because they were exclusively for men.
Secondly, the act illustrates the truth about main characters as hypocritical. Shaw fashions the characters in the first act to guarantee that they epitomize a true picture of a hypocritical society. The first instance of hypocrisy is evident from Mrs. Warren. This is discernible when her daughter confirms to Mr. Praed that she knows enormously little about her mother. Vivie avows, “I know nothing. You forget, Mr. Praed that I hardly know my mother. Since I Was a child I lived in England at college or school, or with people paid to take care of me” (Shaw 11). It is expected that a child has to comprehend and know their parent exceedingly well. This is not a case for Vivie. Mrs. Warren has certified that her daughter spends extremely diminutive time with her. She even forbad her to visit her during her school and collage time. This was to make certain that she does not comprehend she owns a brothel. Mrs. Warren wants her daughter to know her as an upright and straight person. The second instance of hypocrisy is evident in the business ran by Mrs. Warren. Mrs. Warren acclaims to her daughter how she is a woman with self-respect and goods manners. This is contrary to the perception of the audience. The audience and other people in the act undoubtedly comprehend that Mrs. Warren has little self-respect and manners. This is merely because first, Vivie her daughter is a child out of wedlock. Subsequently, it is obvious she exploits her sex and sex of other women to make her living. This is through owning brothels. The brothels are essential for running prostitution.
Lastly, the act portrays the truth about main characters as independent persons in the Victorian society. The two main characters in the act that are created as independent are Vivie and her mother: Mrs. Warren. Vivie is presented as an independent young woman in the Victorian society, a society typified with women being poor and in absolute poverty. Vivie is molded to be an independent woman because of being a graduate in Mathematics from Cambridge. Her state of independency is further underscored when she confirms to Praed that she is not interested in romance and beauty. Furthermore, she sustains her independence when she states that her mother ought never to make decisions without consulting her. This is specious in the act when Vivie asserts, “I shall take my mother by surprise one of these days if she makes arrangements that concern me without consulting me beforehand” (Shaw 11). The proclamation highlights the extent Vivie expects her mother to respect when making decisions concerning her. She has to be consulted before a decision involving her is made. The second case of independence is evident on Mrs. Warren. This is obvious from her ability to fend for her daughter and provide her with the best education available in Europe. This is perceptible when Vivie avows that her mother schooled her in England. This is palpable in the play when Vivie avers, “Since I was a child I have lived in England, at school or college” (Shaw 11). This simply highlights the capability of Mrs. Warren to fend for her daughter despite being a single mother.
Conclusion
The first act presents the main characters in three exceptional truths. First it is apparent that the main characters are described as conservatives and liberals. This is conspicuous where male characters such as Mr. Praed is depicted as conservative whereas Vivie is fashioned as liberal person. Second, the act presents the reality of the main characters as being hypocritical. This is noticeable from their engagements and parent-daughter relationship on the case of Mrs. Warren. Lastly, the act presents the main characters as being independent women. This is on the show in the play on two characters who are Mrs. Warren and Vivie.
Work cited
Shaw, B. George. Mrs. Warren's Profession. Cosimo, Inc., 2006. Print.
