Man and Superman George Bernard Term Paper

51). Ramsden reacts predictably, by becoming defensive, but Tanner shows that he knows Ann, "Ann will do just exactly what he likes. And what's more, she'll force us to advise her to do it; and she'll put the blame on us if it turns out badly" (p. 52).

It is fitting that Ramsden's role in the dream is the statue. During a discussion in Act III between Don Juan, the Devil, the Statue and his daughter Ana, the Statue says of his wife, Ana's mother, "when I married Ana's mother - or, perhaps to be strictly correct, I should rather say when I at last gave in and allowed Ana's mother to marry me - I knew that I was planting thorns in my pillow, and that marriage for me...meant defeat and capture" (p. 159).

Ann enters with her mother. She is a lovely young woman, full of expression and life. She commands both attention and affection from nearly everyone she meets. Ramsden, whom she calls "Granny," thinks she is near perfection. Still, both he and Tanner appeal to her to choose one of her appointed guardians. It seems neither wants to serve out his obligation with the other. Ann sweetly insists that her father's will be followed exactly. In reality, she is acting on her own will, for she is in love with Tanner.

It is no accident that the strongest and most powerful characters in Man and Superman are women, and the weak characters are men. Ann and Violet are both independent women who know what they want and go after it. When Violet announces that she is married and pregnant, she also tells everyone that she will not name her husband, for reasons she declines to disclose. When prodded by Miss Ramsden to name her husband, she says "that is my business, Miss Ramsden, and not yours. I have my reasons for keeping my marriage a secret for the present" (p. 83). Later, during a confrontation between Hector Malone and his father over their secret marriage, she interjects herself at the end to smooth things over and make sure that the allowance from the father will continue (p.190). Perhaps the role of women in this play is due to Shaw's childhood experience, in which his mother left the family, taking her two daughters (but not her son) with her and fleeing to England. He was also said to be devastated at the death of his sister Agnes.

The character that most falls short of having the qualities of a Superman is Octavius. Throughout the play, Ann toys with his emotions and lies to him about her intentions. She cannot be bothered with telling him the truth, but tells him instead that she is going to marry Tanner because that is what her mother and deceased father want her to do. When confronted by the truth, after a conversation with Ann's mother, Octavius does not react with anger, but meekly accepts the news.

When finally confronted with Ann's decision, Octavius cannot seize the moment and react with anger. Ann tells him that he will never marry; that he is the type of bachelor that will stay single for the rest of his life, because of a broken heart. Octavius responds that he will kill himself. Ann then tells him, "Oh no you won't: that wouldn't be kind. You want to have a bad time" (p. 194). He responds that he knows that she is trying to be kind and that Tanner has told her that cynicism is good for him. Later Ann further humiliates him when she says, "You are so softhearted! it's queer that you should be so different from Violet. Violet's as hard as nails" (p. 195). The encounter ends on Ann's terms. She tells him the conversation is over and….....