Introduction
"Mrs Warren′s Profession was written in 1894 to draw the attention to the truth that prostitution is caused, not by female depravity and male licentiousness, but simply by underpaying, under-valuing and over-working women so shamefully that the poorest of them are forced to resort to prostitution to keep body and soul together."
(Shaw in his preface to Mrs Warren′s Profession; The Guthrie Theater Study Guide).
This paper analyzes how George Bernard Shaw explores the problem of prostitution and the temptations that Vivie Warren faces in his play "Mrs Warren′s Profession" written in 1894. Concerning the problem of prostitution, Shaw gives an account of a conflict between individual needs and the morality of Victorian society. Furthermore, Shaw exposes the downsides of the principles and morality of the upper classes at the turn of the century. It was a period of sexual repression, which lasted during the 1890s and into the 20th century. The author claims that the "White Slave Traffic", which referred to prostitutes as slaves, was a social problem in post-industrial revolution England.
First I will analyze the exploration of the problem of prostitution by looking at the characters and their opinion towards prostition. Then I will focus on the justifications and reasons for prostitution that Shaw provides. In the second half of this paper, I will analyze the temptations Vivie Warren has to face also by looking at the characters and the evolution she goes through. I will finish off with a conclusion in respect to both analyses and by viewing the play as a morality play.
Because of the focus on prostitution and Shaw′s critical view of society′s attitude towards it, the play was censored and wasn′t performed until 1902 in a private club. Public perfomance didn′t take place until 1926 (Norton Topics Online). The censorship shows how controversial the issue of prostitution and how revolutionary Shaw′s play was in the Victorian period.
1. The problem of prostitution
1.1 The characters and the issue of prostitution
[...]
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The problem of prostitution
1.1 The characters and the issue of prostitution
1.1.1 Mrs. Warren
1.1.2 Vivie Warren
1.2 Circumstances and reasons for prostitution
2. The temptations for Vivie Warren
2.1 The characters and their offers
2.1.1 Reverend Samuel Gardner – Religion and the Church
2.1.2 Sir George Crofts – Money and Social Position
2.1.3 Mr. Praed – Arts and Aesthetics
2.1.4 Frank Gardner – Young Love
2.1.5 Mrs. Warren – Luxury and Materialism
2.2 Vivie’s aim for reality
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines how George Bernard Shaw addresses the issue of prostitution and the temptations faced by the protagonist, Vivie Warren, in his 1894 play "Mrs. Warren's Profession." The primary research aim is to analyze how Shaw uses these characters to critique Victorian societal double standards, the exploitation of women, and the economic roots of prostitution.
- Societal critique of Victorian morality and capitalism
- Prostitution as a direct consequence of poverty and lack of opportunities
- The role of "temptations" as symbols of basic human desires
- Vivie Warren’s path to independence and her pursuit of reality
- The play as a modern morality play focused on rationalism
Excerpt from the Book
1.1.1 Mrs. Warren
Mrs. Warren is presented as “formely pretty, [lady] […] rather spoilt and domineering, and decidedly vulgar, but, […] genial and rather presentable“ lady (Shaw 1884, p. 1815). She seems to be a conventional and respectable woman of the Victorian times. The picture of her is altered throughout the play into an unconventional and even “unmentionable woman” (Shaw 1884, p. 1843), who can only be described with “two infamous words” (Shaw 1884, p. 1849). This shows the contradictions presented in the play: on the one hand within Mrs. Warren and on the other hand the double standards of the Victorian society. Because, although we don’t learn which these two infamous words are, it is clear that after the revelation that she was and still is a brothel-keeper, she becomes an “impossible” person in society: “Frank: […] It’s no use, Viv: your mother’s impossible. She may be a good sort; but she’s a bad lot, a very bad lot.” (Shaw 1884, p. 1838). This statement of Frank clarifies society’s attitude towards prostitution and brothels, that it’s truly unacceptable, although she might seem like (and is by now) a “good sort”, a respectable lady as she has appeared to be in the beginning of the play.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides the context of the play's creation and outlines the analytical approach regarding the critique of Victorian society and the character of Vivie Warren.
1. The problem of prostitution: Discusses how Shaw links prostitution to poverty and explores the complicity of the upper classes within the Victorian economic system.
2. The temptations for Vivie Warren: Analyzes the various figures in Vivie's life who represent different societal temptations and her eventual rejection of these influences.
3. Conclusion: Summarizes the thesis that the play serves as a moral critique where the ultimate goal of the protagonist, and Shaw himself, is to find reality through rationalism.
Keywords
George Bernard Shaw, Mrs. Warren’s Profession, Prostitution, Victorian society, Poverty, Feminism, Capitalism, Temptation, Vivie Warren, Social critique, Morality play, Rationalism, Independence, Exploitation, Gender roles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on George Bernard Shaw's critique of Victorian society as presented in his play "Mrs. Warren's Profession," specifically investigating the systemic causes of prostitution and the moral challenges faced by the character Vivie Warren.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the impact of poverty on women's choices, the hypocrisy of Victorian upper-class morality, the rejection of traditional gender roles, and the pursuit of individual intellectual independence.
What is the research goal regarding Vivie Warren?
The goal is to analyze how Vivie resists various social temptations that represent "flights from reality" and how she eventually finds her personal salvation through rationalism and work.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, contextualizing the play within the historical and socio-economic framework of post-industrial England and the Victorian era.
What does the main body cover?
The main body examines the specific characters—such as Reverend Gardner, Sir George Crofts, and Mr. Praed—as symbols of societal forces, and details the justifications for prostitution provided by Mrs. Warren.
Which keywords define the scope of the study?
The work is defined by terms such as Victorian society, poverty, prostitution, capitalist critique, and the "New Woman" archetype represented by Vivie Warren.
How does the author define the "temptations" faced by Vivie?
The author identifies these as personified obstacles representing basic human desires—such as religion, wealth, aesthetics, and romantic love—which aim to pull the protagonist back into a conventional, subservient role.
Why was the play considered revolutionary during its time?
The play challenged contemporary sexual morality and exposed the uncomfortable truth that respectable society was often built upon the economic exploitation of poor women, leading to its heavy censorship.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2004, Mrs. Warren and the problem of prostitution and the temptations of Vivie Warren in Bernard Shaw's 'Mrs. Warren's Profession', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/23393
