10TH GRADE
ENGLISH
___
Important Notes
Themes :
★ Ignorance vs. Knowledge :
Arms and the Man is concerned foremost with the clash between knowledge and ignorance, or,
otherwise stated, between realism and romanticism. Raina and her fiancé Sergius are steeped in
the romanticism of operettas and paperback novels. Bluntschli uses his superior knowledge to
disabuse Raina of her military delusions, while the experience of war itself strips Sergius of the
grand ideals he held. The couple’s idealized vision of warfare deflates in the face of additional
information.
In the realm of love, the couple’s pretensions are defeated by the thoroughgoing pragmatism of
their respective new matches: Bluntschli and Louka. Both the Swiss Captain and Bulgarian maid
confront their lovers about the gap between their words and their true selves, exposing their
hypocrisy. When faced with reality, both Raina and Sergius are able to abandon their romantic
delusions and embrace their honest desires.
★ The Realities of War:
When Catherine and Raina imagine war they picture brave and dashing officers fighting
honorable battles. The reality of war falls far from this romanticized vision. In the play’s
opening scene Bulgarian soldiers hunt and kill fleeing Serbians in the streets of a quiet
mountain town. Once Captain Bluntschli, a career soldier, appears, he becomes an eloquent
messenger for the horrors of war. He describes conditions of starvation and exhaustion at the
front lines. Moreover, having been under fire for three days, he seems to be suffering from some
form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, jumping nervously when Raina squeals. What first
appears to be the most glorious moment in the war, Sergius’ cavalry charge, is revealed to be an
absurd case of dumb luck. Later in the play Captain Bluntschli helps Major Petkoff and Sergius
coordinate the return routes of surviving troops so as to prevent starvation. Since the play
begins in the aftermath of the Serbo-Bulgarian War, the reader doesn’t experience any
titillating battles, only a grinding post-war reality where hunger and death loom in the
background. This picture successfully deflates any romantic notions the characters or audience
may hold.
★ The Realities of Love:
Raina and Sergius are as delusional about love as they are about war, seeming to have derived
their understanding of romance primarily from Byronic poetry. They celebrate each other with
formal and pretentious declarations of “higher love”, yet clearly feel uncomfortable in one
another’s presence (25). The couple, with their good looks, noble blood and idealistic outlook,
seem to be a perfect match, but in George Bernard Shaw’s world love does not function as it
does in fairy tales. Instead Raina falls for the practical and competent Swiss mercenary that
crawls through her bedroom window and Sergius for the pragmatic and clever household maid.
Love does not adhere to conventions regarding class or nationality. Moreover, love is not some
abstract expression of poetic purity. Love in Arms and the Man is ultimately directed at those
who understand the characters best and who ground them in reality.
★ Incompetent Authority:
Throughout the play competence and power do not align with established authority. Louka, the
insolent but charming maid, repeatedly flouts social rules. By violating traditional ideas of
authority and power, she is able to win marriage to a handsome and wealthy war hero. Her
manipulation of Sergius, who is privileged both in terms of wealth and gender, demonstrates
that control does not necessarily derive from social authority. Likewise, Catherine manipulates
her husband Major Petkoff, withholding information and shepherding him about. Major
Petkoff, as the oldest wealthy male, should be the most powerful character according to
contemporary social hierarchy. Yet Petkoff proves to be a buffoon; he is, in fact, the character
least able to control outcomes, as he rarely understands what is unfolding before him.
★ Class:
Class has a large and continuous presence in Arms and the Man. The Petkoffs’ upper -class
pretensions are portrayed as ridiculous and consistently played for laughs. The family’s pride in
their so-called library (a sitting room with a single bookshelf) becomes a running joke
throughout the play. Shaw praises the family’s more local and humble roots: admiring the
oriental decorations in Raina’s bedroom and describing Catherine’s earthy local beauty. In
contrast he condemns and mocks their attempts to conform to romantic notions of what
nobility means. Raina’s outdated Viennese fashions and Catherine’s tea gowns are treated as
ridiculous.
Louka’s struggle demonstrates many of the effects of class in Bulgarian society. She feels
restricted by her station, which condemns her to a life where reading books is considered
presumptuous. Using her wit, Louka manages to escape these boundaries, achieving equality
with the wealthy Sergius.
★ Bravery:
At the beginning of the play Sergius, like both Catherine and Raina, imagines bravery as the will
to undertake glorious and theatrical actions. This belief leads the young Bulgarian Major to lead
a regiment of cavalry against a line of machine guns. Despite his dumb luck, the action
identifies him as an incompetent and somewhat ludicrous figure, halting his advancement in
the ranks. When he returns at the end of the war Louka challenges his romantic notions of
bravery. Sergius admits that “carnage is cheap”: anyone can have the will to inflict violence
(45). Louka submits that the subtle bravery required to live outside social rules and constraints
is more worthy of praise. At the play’s end Sergius demonstrates this particular kind of bravery
when he embraces Louka in front of the others and agrees to marry her.
Like Sergius, Captain Bluntschli also undermines traditional understandings of bravery. He tells
Raina that there are two types of soldiers - young and old - not brave and cowardly. The young
are too inexperienced to know true fear, and the old have reached their age by championing
survivalism over heroics. The Swiss mercenary is willing to face danger when necessary but he
does not act in ways that court death and is always relieved to avoid combat.
★ Personal Honesty:
It is through personal honesty that all the play’s major conflicts are resolved. Raina abandons
her indignant posturing and admits that Sergius exasperates her, allowing her to pair up with
Bluntschli. Likewise, Sergius overcomes his overly romantic understanding of the meaning of
love and bravery, opening himself to an engagement with Louka. It is only when the couple
confront hits and accept their true desires and feelings that they find happiness with their ideal
partners. Pretending to share noble love makes both Raina and Sergius miserable; Raina
fantasizes about shocking her fiancé’s propriety and Sergius cannot wait for Raina’s departure
so he can complain about their tiring relationship to a pretty young maid. In the end, even
Bluntschli embraces his inner romantic self, asking for the hand of the girl he is smitten with.
Each character gives in to his honest desires and is rewarded with an optimal outcome.
Characters of "Arms and the
Man":
■ Raina -
The play’s protagonist and heroine. Raina is a young woman living in the provinces in Bulgaria,
and born into the wealthy Petkoff family. She pines for her fiancé Sergius, who has just led a
successful, if ill-planned, cavalry charge against the Serbs. Raina meets and falls in love with
Bluntschli, the Swiss “chocolate cream soldier” fighting for the Serbs.
■ Bluntschli -
Swiss mercenary fighting for the Serbs, and Raina’s love interest, who she calls “the chocolate
cream soldier.” He is skilled in warfare and emotionally sophisticated, but has a weakness for
sweets. Bluntschli hides in Raina’s room with her help. When he returns in the spring to return
Major Petkoff’s cloak, events are set into motion that bring out Catherine and Raina’s
conspiracy to help him, and that lead to his engagement to Raina and an ultimately happy
ending.
■ Sergius -
Raina’s fiancé, and the hero of the Battle of Slivnitza. Sergius, by his own and many others’
admission, has no military skill. He led the charge out of a mixture of foolhardiness and desire
for self-aggrandizement. Sergius flirts with the Petkoffs’ servant Louka, and the play ends in
their engagement.
■ Catherine -
Raina’s mother, and matriarch of the Petkoff household. Catherine wants to marry off her
daughter to as wealthy and prominent a man as possible. When Sergius appears to be this man,
Catherine approves of the union. As it becomes clear that Sergius is not the man he presented
himself to be, Catherine is willing to switch her allegiances to Bluntschli. Catherine is focused
on making sure the Petkoffs’ are up-to-date in their home furnishings and technology.
■ Louka -
The Petkoffs’ female Louka is engaged to Nicola, the head male servant. She has a vexed if
flirtatious relationship with Sergius, who is engaged to Raina. Louka wants to better her social
station by marrying a noble, and criticizes Nicola for having no aspirations over those of a
common servant.
■ Major Petkoff -
Head of the Petkoff family, and Raina’s father. The Major is a decent if unambitious soldier, and
he seems concerned mostly with maintaining his family’s social position in the rural parts of
Bulgaria. He and Catherine are willing to accept Bluntschli as Raina’s suitor by the play’s end
only after he demonstrates just how wealthy he is.
■ Nicola -
Head male servant of the Petkoff estate. Nicola initially reprimands Louka for her willingness to
leverage information she’s heard as gossip against the Petkoffs. Louka feels that Nicola is not
ambitious enough because he is content to be a servant for the rest of his life. Nicola ends the
play by breaking his engagement amicably with Louka, allowing her to be engaged to Sergius.
■ Bluntschli’s Friend -
A soldier for the Serbian side, who knows Bluntschli. This unnamed friend meets Petkoff and
Sergius during an exchange of goods. He tells them a story about his friend who hid in a
Bulgarian home and escaped with the help of two Bulgarian women. Petkoff and Sergius have
no idea this soldier’s story is about Bluntschli, Raina, and Catherine.
Questions & Answers :
1. Why is Arms and the Man called anti romantic comedy?
Bernard Shaw opines that romanticism is nothing but the fake opening out of the fantasy that is
dormant in the minds of human beings. In Arms and the Man, Show has denounced and
demolished this romantic illusion and the sentimental feeling that gathered around love and
war when Raina Succumbs at last to the man she calls her ‘Chocolate Cream Soldier’. Bluntschli
has cured her of the second of the two deceptions which ruled her life when the play began. She
no longer thinks of war as a romantic game, nor does she any longer think of marriage as the
mating of a beautiful heroine and a handsome hero in a lifelong romantic dream. Instead of the
ornamental and fickle Sergius, She takes as her husband the plain Bluntschli. It is in this
contextual view, Arms and the Man is called an anti romantic comedy.
2. “What are the two main themes of Shaw’s ‘Arms and the Man’?
The play, Arms and the Man has two themes. One is war, the other is marriage. These themes
are interwoven, for Shaw believed that while war is evil and stupid and marriage desirable and
good, both had become wrapped in romantic illusions which led to disastrous wars and also to
unhappy marriages.
3. What is a romantic girl’s romantic view of life in ‘Arms and the Man’?
In "Arms and the Man," Raina Petkoff intends, at the time the play opens, to become the wife of
Major Sergius Saranoff, who is then away fighting the Serbs. News has come home to Raina and
her mother that Sergius has ridden bravely at the head of a victorious Cavalry Charge, and
Raina rejoices because she can now believe that her betrothed is just as splendid and noble as
he looks ! that the world is really a glorious world for women who can see its glory and men who
can act its romance”. In the opening scene of the play, after adoring Sergius’ portrait, Raina
goes to bed murmuring, ‘My hero! My hero! This is a romantic girl’s romantic view of life.
4. What is ‘The romantic view of war’ and how is it revealed in Arms and
the Man’?
A stern realist, Shaw exploded the myth of romantic love and all romantic ideas in the cloth of
war. To him, the romantic view of war is that men fight because they are heroes, and that the
soldier who takes the biggest risks wins the greatest glory and is the greatest hero. Raina, the
romantic girl imagines to become the wife of the ornamental Major Sergius for he had ridden
bravely at the head of a victorious Cavalry charge. Raina rejoices for his splendid bravery like
the greatest hero and even murmurs ‘My hero! My hero! while adoring Sergius' portrait.
5. “The man is not a conventional stage soldier”-What does this line reveal
in the shavian play ‘Arms and the Man’?
It is a notion that conventional soldiers will remain unfed and sleepless and also be unable to
rejoice. Bluntschli is not different. His nerves are going to be crumbled after being three days
under fire and in horrors of pursuit. His bitter experience makes him believe that he is more in
need of a few bits of chocolate to cherish in the front than cartridges for his revolver.
6. Does the realities of war make Sergius educated ?
Sergius witnessed the horror and terror, brutality and blood thirst and death and destruction in
the war. He got disillusioned about war and soldiers. He came to the realization that it was
hypocrisy to say that war gave an opportunity to exhibit one’s patriotism, heroism and glory,
rather it was ridiculous and horrible.
7. Write a brief note on Byron (Act 1).
The Romantic Paradox, Lord Byron (1788-1824) is an eminent English poet. He looks down
upon man’s hypocrisy and oppression to man. These cruelties of society make him antagonistic
to the on-going traditions and statesmanship. His writings are steeped in love and satire. His
greatest work Don Juan exposes romantic adventures and satires in life. This great poet died in
Greece with the intention of fighting in the cause of independence. Moreover, many in Britain
were infatuated by Byronism i.e. his ideas, attitude and manners.
8. Write a note on Pushkin (Act I). Alexanders. Pushkin (1799-1837) was
the greatest of Russian poets. He was not only influenced by French but also
by English literature specially by Shakespeare and Byron.
9. ‘And there was Don Quixote flourishing like a drum major thinking he’d
do the cleverest thing ever know’ -Who is compared to Don Quixote and
why?
Don Quixote is the hero of the Spanish novelist, Cervantes ' romance Don Quixote in the 16th
Century. The Hero is so overcome by romantic illusions that he imagines he is fighting an
enemy when he is only attacking the sails of a windmill.
In "Arms and the Man," Sergius is compared to Don Quixote. Bluntschli, the mouthpiece of
Shaw, makes this comparison for when Sergius leads a Cavalry Charge against a battery of
machine guns like Don Quixote.
10. What did Raina want to say to Bluntschli by mentioning ‘Ernani?
Italian Composer, Gileseppi Verdi (1831-1901) Set up an opera called ‘Ernani ‘by mentioning
this Raina wants to impress on Bluntschli that her family was highly aristocratic with a cultural
heritage. She also makes it clear by referring to the fact that once Ernani was chased by the
enemy he took refuge in the castle of his enemy who did not hand him over to the old Castilian
Noble because his guest was a bliss to him. Like Ernani, Bluntschli could depend on Petkoff’s
aristocracy on hospitality.
11. Who is Childe Harold?
Byron composed a long poem called Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage (1812). In it the hero Childe
Harold is described as a traveler, a romantic youth who traverses several European countries
and comes in contact with historical persons and events. He is very grand and terrible, and
sinister with the stain of a dark and awful past.
12. Write a note on Cossacks.
The Cossacks were a Turkish tribe who came under Russian rule and were famous as a fast-
riding Cavalry.
13. “The world is really a glorious world for women.” Explain.
The romantic heroine, Raina remarks this. Raina’s mother, Catherine informs Raina that Major
Sergius, her fiance, has ridden bravely at the head of a Victorious Cavalry Charge. Having heard
this Raina remarks this in rejoice.
14. “It was the cradle and grave of my reputation.”-What does the remark
imply? What was the effect of Sergius winning the battle in the wrong
way?
Sergius has ridden bravely at the head of a victorious Cavalry Charge. Yet he is not considered
enough for a higher rank by his superiors. So, as a form of protest against this injustice, Sergius
has submitted his resignation letter. Though Cavalry Charge bestowed on him some reputation
as a winner, he makes him believe in putting an end to his profession as a warrior. This is
revealed in this speech of Sergius.
15, “Like a knight in a tournament……. – What does the phrase “a knight
in a tournament imply?
In Act II, Sergius remarks this to Raina. In Europe in the Middle ages noblemen in armor fought
in single combat before a seated audience which often included the ladies to whom the knights
were devoted. The work knight then suggested both soldier and servant of love. Sergius, by this,
highlights his anchoring in war.
16. “Of all the fool ever let loose on a field to battle.” Who made this to
whom and about whom?
Bluntschli made his remarks to Raina about Sergius in Act 1 Sergius’ heroism is eulogized and
side by side scorned of for Bluntschli, the Shavian mouthpiece bears grudge against the
romantic notion of war which Raina embossed in her imagination.
17. Briefly sketch Raina’s character as you find in ‘The Arms and the Man’
(Act I).
Raina in Act I is a girl of romanticism and sentimentalism. Her mind is full of
idealistic fantasies. Her mind is engrossed with the idealistic notion of love
and heroism. She takes pride in the cultural heritage of her family in
Bulgaria. She keeps herself busy going through the books of romance. The
sordid realities of life do not startle her.
18. Comment on the presentation of Louka’s role in Arms and the Man’?
The Shavian view on love is exposed in the role of Louka. She is a girl of calculation and
ambition. Shaw sketches her as a foil to the romantic heroine Raina and the female stimulation
of Bluntschli with a purpose of presenting ‘higher love’ and a love affair between opposite sex
in reality. Her role also reflects that love is only a sex war between man and woman based upon
the biological necessity for procreation and there is nothing romanticism in it.
19. What is Louka’s estimate of Nicola ? In what respects do they differ?
Louka, an epitome of Shavian view on love looks down upon Nicola for his clinging to the spirit
of servitude. His desire is to be loyal to the family for which he is always ready to accept any
defame. But Louka is of calculation and ambition with a rebellious spirit for independence. She
is impudent and does not bother the superiority of Raina to her.
20. Comment on the source of the title of Arms and the Man!
Shaw took the cue from Dryden’s translation of the opening lines of the Roman poet. Virgil’s
Aeneid. The phrase used by the Roman epic poet Arma Virumque means ‘Arms and the Man I
sing’. Virgil eulogizes the heroism of soldiers. Shaw’s intention of using the phrase as title is to
criticize the heroism and the romantic attitude to war in Virgil. There is nothing romantic in
the case of a soldier (Bluntschli) who is more interested in Chocolate Cream than Cartridges in
reality.
21. What does Raina want to convey expressing her fondness of reading
‘Byron and Pushkin’?
Raina is a romantic girl who symbolizes the theme of romanticism. She looks at life and society
through the prism of romanticism. She openly tells her mother, Catherine that Sergius and her
ideas have been coloured because that they have read the works of Pushkin and Byron whose
works are vibrant with romanticism and adventurism.
22. What does Raina do with the portrait of Sergius?
Sergius is Raina’s finance. So, she adores her future husband’s portrait as a votary of love. She
looks at the portrait and murmurs ‘My hero! My hero!’ as if her soul's a hero. She even shows it
to Bluntschli who took refuge in her room. Bluntschli. arouses her adoration by comparing
Sergius to Don Quixote and she naturally kisses it being enamored.
23. What does Bluntschli want to mean by saying “A narrow save; but a
miss is as a mile’?
In Act I, the fugitive Bluntschli comes out from behind the curtain just when
the Russian soldier in Bulgarian uniform leaves Raina’s bedroom. Then
Bluntschli remarks this. Bluntschli expresses his narrow escape from certain
death as the enemy officer missed him narrowly. But to Bluntschli a miss is a
miss if it is by hair’s breadth or by mile. This exposes his greater relief from
danger.
24. What did Bluntschli say about the old and new soldiers?
Bluntschli opines that the young soldiers always carry Cartridges while the old food stuff. He
realistically says that the old soldiers are weather beaten and execute their acts from their
heaps of knowledge and foreboding, but the new ones always act foolishly feeling an urge to be
unwary. As a Shavian mouthpiece Bluntschli focuses that weapons are nothing compared to
food for hungry ones who can never fight in the front.
25. “I’ll save you.” How does Raina save the fugitive, Bluntschli?
The Russian officer in Bulgarian uniform enters into Raina’s bedroom in search of the fugitive,
Bluntschli. Bluntschli prepares for a fight before being killed, finding no other way of escape.
But Raina with her impulse drags him towards the window and draws the curtain before him.
She then appears before the officer drowsily. The Russian officer makes a fervent approach and
proposes for a search but Raina denies that there is no Serb there. Not only this but also she
makes him believe by covering the curtain with her back. The Russian officer makes no attempt
to search and leaves, keeping Bluntschli in the safe custody of Raina. Raina does not stop here.
She enables him on the following morning to escape by offering her father’s old coat so that no
one could recognize him.
26. “I am a Petkoff.” How does Raina introduce the Petkoff to Bluntschli?
The Petkoffs are remarkable for their hospitality. They are the richest family in [Link]
says that her father holds the highest command among the Bulgarians in the army. They have
the only library in Bulgaria. They also often visit the opera in Bucharest and also visit and stay
in Vienna. In a nutshell, the Petkoffs are the most aristocratic in Bulgaria.
27. What is Sergius opinion about Soldering and the secret of successful
fighting?
Sergius too has learned something of the realities of war and is so disgusted by them that he has
sent in his resignation, saying “Soldiering…. is the coward’s art of attacking mercilessly when
you are strong, and keeping out of harm’s way when you are weak’. This is the secret revealed
by Sergius. Moreover, war is a game of advantage. One should get one’s enemy at a
disadvantage and fight the enemy on equal terms or to the enemy’s advantage.
28. How had Bluntschli ‘humbugged' Major Petkoff and Sergius?
Bluntschli who took refuge in Raina’s bedroom humbugged Major Petkoff and Sergius by a
negotiation with the exchange of two hundred worn-out horses for only fifty able-bodied
soldiers Bluntschli befooled them as they found that the horses were useless in reality.
29. ‘Ah, he was a soldier, every inch a soldier’ Explain.
Sergius remarks this about Bluntschli, a Swiss professional soldier in the Serbian army.
Bluntschli’s practicality, Shrewdness and devoid of romantic idealism about war provoke
Sergius to remark this. Bluntschli has the commercial background which enables him to be
successful by cheating Bulgarians in exchanges of two hundred horses for fifty soldiers who are
in prison. According to the military rule books this kind of pettiness is needed to a soldier to be
successful. Sergius’s Sarcasm has been revealed in this above remark.
30. “To escape their Sabres he climbed a water pipe……..” -How did
Sergius narrate the story of Bluntschli’s escape?
Sergius tinges Bluntschli escaping with the color of romance. He narrates
that Bluntschli runs away like all other Serbs in the same battery that was
charged by Sergius. Finding no other alternative way, the Swiss officer
climbed a water pipe and timely entered into the bedroom of Raina who is the
daughter of the highest commander in the Bulgarian army opposite to Serbs.
Raina is enamored by Bluntschli’s manner that even she protects the honor of
her guest from the Russian officer. She calls her mother Catherine Petkoff
who is also equally fascinated by his manners. Bluntschli disguises himself for
the whole night and in the morning Raina offers her father’s old coat to go
away in disguise so that no one can recognize him.
Q.31. What is ‘higher love’ according to Raina ? How does Sergius
reciprocate Raina’s ‘higher love’?
“Higher love’ is romanticized and idealized love. It exists in the land of fancy and dreamland. It
is free from physical love. It is the meeting point of two minds not of bodies. Raina and Sergius
are the apostles of higher love. Raina’s inspiration makes him move and he has gone through
the war ‘like a knight in a tournament with his lady looking down at him’. Moreover, Sergius
reciprocates her higher love by uttering that all his deeds have been hers.
32. Why did Sergius feel attracted towards Louka?
Sergius went to the battlefield bearing in his heart a cherished vision about love and war. His
illusions were broken. He became disgusted with the wars and soldiers. Even Iso was tired of
‘higher love’ of Raina. So, as soon as he glanced a: Louka his pent up soul felt an attraction for
Louka who was seductive, pragmatic and witty. Her physical charm pervaded the romantic
charm of Raina and made Sergius to be infatuated.
33. “From Raina, to her Chocolate Cream Soldier a souvenir? “-Who is
Chocolate Cream Soldier? Why is he so called?
-Bluntschli is nicknamed as “Chocolate Cream Soldier’ by Raina Petkoff.
-Bluntschli suddenly became a midnight intruder into Raina's room. He was then very much
wearied and hungry. She give him some chocolate. To her, he appeared not a real soldier, but a
mere Chocolate Cream Soldier : he needed to be mothered like a child: Bluntschli's sheer
predicament aroused Raina’s maternal instinct and she allowed him even to have a sleep in her
room.
34. “Welcome our friend!”-What does this line reveal?
Sergius makes this remark to Bluntschli in Act II. After recognizing Bluntschli in Raina’s bed
room, Sergius welcomes him heartily. Though Bluntscli is an enemy to the Bulgarians as he is a
Swiss professional soldier serving to the Serbian army opposite to Bulgar's, he is no longer an
enemy for the war is over but a friend. Thus, Sergius makes this comment.
35. Why does the Swiss say that Bulgarian “officers send for their wives to
keep discipline”?
Bluntschi urges Petkoff to see whether Sergius talks to the escort properly, Major Petkoff goes
to the door but hesitating, returns and asks his wife to go with him as certainly the escorts will
be more frightened of Catherine than of Major Petkoff himself. Observing Petkoff’s hesitating
movement, Bluntschli remarks that Bulgarian officers send for their wives to keep discipline.
Q.36. What is the significance of the story of ‘Ice-pudding’?
Raina addressed Bluntschli as' Chocolate Cream Soldier’. Petkoff and Sergius were greatly
surprised at this. In order to wipe out that puzzle some situation Rain” invented a story about
how Nicola put plates on ice-pudding ir de by her. That witty invention gave Bluntschli relief
from embarrassment. Yet Petkoff was greatly amazed having found that she had been cooped
up in the kitchen making a room for Nicola, to idle away her time. Nicola, true to his duty,
confessed his fault and was about to be forcibly dismissed. He was saved by the interference of
Raina and her mother, Catherine.
37. “I broke no rivals.”-Why did Sergius challenge Bluntschli to a duel?
Sergius came to learn from Louka that Raina, his beloved, had fallen in love with Bluntschli. For
this Bluntschli became his rival and for that rivalry he challenged Bluntschli to a due at six
o’clock in the drilling ground on the Klissoura Road. Sergius intimated that he would be on
horseback with his sword.
38. “I refuse to fight you.”-Why did Sergius refuse to fight?
While the dew was going to happen, Raina came in and was greatly surprised at this. But
Bluntscli made her believe that no harm would be done either. Then Sergius accused him of
making love with Raina behind him. Bluntschli readily denied it and it was in this connection
Sergius’ love affair with Louka revealed. Sergius refused to take part in the duel on the ground
that Bluntschli was too cold to be a man of flesh and blood.
39. Why does Louka say she is not ashamed of eavesdropping?
Sergius’ flat heroism arouses a burning love for Louka. She eyes on everything. She is
eavesdropping on the conversation that is going on among Raina, Sergius and Bhentschli. She is
caught red-handed by Sergius who drags her in and provokes Bluntschli to judge her. Bluntschli
also reveals a truth that he will not judge because Sergius too has once been eavesdropping
outside a tent when there a mutiny brewing. Though Louka’s life and love are at take, she does
not get ashamed of eavesdropping for a burning love for Sergius.
40. Comment on the role of Raina’s photograph.
With the inscription ‘Raina, to her Chocolate Cream Soldier, a Souvenir’, Raina put her
photograph in the pocket of her father’s coat and offered the coat to Bluntschli for his disguise
and safe journey. But when the coat is brought before the Petkoff, Raina skillfully handles the
situation by helping her father to put on it to take away her portrait. She placed it before
Bluntschli who cleverly covered it with paper before the eyes of Sergius. This hide and seek
exposed Raina’s love for Bluntschli without scant impression whether Bluntschli was married.
Q.41. What made Sergius to think that the world is not an innocent place?
Having observed the game of hide and seek with Raina’s photograph, Sergius came to the
realization how the romance of “higher love" could easily be shattered at the hard touch of
reality. He came to know how his celestial Raina fell in love with the Swiss behind his back. So,
to him the world was no longer a place of innocence.
Q.42. What a man / Is he a man!”-What is the significance of this estimate
by the speaker?
This is the concluding line of Shaw’s Arms and the Man. Bluntschli, the Shavian mouthpiece is
the man summed up by Sergius. Bluntschli mocks the foolish idealistic romanticism about war
and love. Shaw combines, in him practicality, humor, unorthodoxy and self-awareness.
Through him Shaw criticizes all aspects of human life and romantic and sentimental follies to
promote self-esteem and self-knowledge among individuals and within the society. Above all
Bluntschli is the representative of the Shavian concept of Superman.
43. In what sense Bluntschli is ‘incurably romantic’?
Bluntschli estimates himself as a true vagabond. He was a boy of impudence and ran away from
home twice. Instead of looking after his father’s business, he joined the army and taking shelter
in a nearby cellar, he climbed the balcony of a house. Instead of sending the coat by a
messenger he himself came to Petkoff’s house to have a glimpse at Raina. So, Bluntschli sums
up that though he is a man of practicality, he always puts on a mask of romanticism.
44. How did Louka realize that a man was hiding in Raina’s bedroom?
Louka entered Raina’s bedroom to intimate a Serb fugitive, having climbed the water pipe to
her Balcony. Then she discovered the revolver lying on the ottoman. She gazed at it and almost
petrified. It made her guess that the climbing man was certainly hiding in Raina’s room.’
45. “I am steel a simple major.”-Why was not Sergius promoted ? How
scientific was Sergius’s win?
Sergius, though has ridden bravely at the head of a victorious cavalry charge, was not promoted
because his fighting was unscientific and he won in the wrong way. He led cavalry against
artillery. That was most unscientific. He had to fight with swords on horseback against field
guns. He won because the enemy was supplied with wrong ammunition and could not fire a
single round. The enemy naturally ran away instead of making fence resistance.
Q.46. “Arms and the Man’ is an education of Raina.”-Why?
Raina came in close contact with Bluntschli. Who was a pragmatist. Raina realized the
difference between appearance and reality. She gradually snatched away her mood of
romanticism and entered into the world of reality with life and laughter. This is why it is said.
47. “You have the soul of a servant.”-What does the speaker Frean to say?
Louka, the maid servant in Petkoffs, made this caustic remark about Nicola, Nicola longed to tie
the nuptial knot with Louka. But Nicola had Servile mentality that made her wrathful.
48. “This is a better weapon than a revolver.”-Explain.
Bluntschli makes this remark. He plainly exposes the reality that Raina’s cloak is a better
weapon than a revolver because without it, she would not be able to dress herself properly to
prevent Bulgarian soldiers from entering her room. With it she saves his life quietly in a safe
and will be safe as long as she has her cloak with him.
49. What is the dramatic interest of Act I of the play “Arms and the Man’?
Act I in Shaw’s Arms and the Man constitutes the exposition of the play. The
play’s main themes i.e. sarcasm on glorification of war, and romantic love
have been introduced in this Act. T..e play’s all principal personage romantic
girl Raina, pragmatic Bluntschli, witty Louka and Servile Nicola have been
introduced, and even with the introduction of Sergius.
Revision on Act I:
[Link] is Raina shown as the romantic character?
Raina is a romantic girl. This is proved while she is standing in the balcony, conscious of the
romantic beauty of the night. After her mother has told her that Sergius is a hero and has won a
great victory she says that she will never be worthy of him any more. She refuses to close the
window when her mother advises her to do so because of the shots. She wants to stay as long as
she can in her romantic dream on the balcony.
-She keeps on looking at the moon and starts thinking about Sergius, her hero and future
husband.
[Link] good news did Catherine bring to her daughter, Raina?
She came to her with wonderful news. She told her about the latest battle that was won by her
fiance, Sergius. He defied the Russian officers' commands and made a cavalry charge on his own
responsibility. The brave Bulgarian soldiers followed him with swords in hands like thunder.
They scattered the poor Serbs and their Russian officers like chaff and killed as many as they
could of them. She added that Sergius won a great victory for Bulgarian and was the "hero of the
hour."
3. "If you have a drop of Bulgarian blood in your veins, you will worship
him when he comes back." Comment.
This quotation has been said by Catherine to her daughter, Raina. Catherine brought Raina very
good news about her fiance, Sergius. She told her that her fiance was the hero of the hour and
he had gained a great victory for their country. She blamed Raina for her cold behavior towards
Sergius. Raina kept him. waiting for a year before she would be married to him. Catherine
wanted her daughter to change her attitude towards Sergius and make it up for him when he
came back from the battle-field.
4."What will he care for my poor little worship after the acclamations of a
whole army of heroes. Comment.
Raina said that to her mother when Catherine blamed her for delaying her marriage to Sergius
and being cold with him. Catherine wanted Raina to make it up for Sergius when he came back.
She wanted her daughter to worship him. Raina wondered what use it was her poor little
worship for him now that he was worshiped by a whole army of heroes. These words reflect
Raina's sorrow and remorse for suspecting her fiance's heroism and patriotism.
7. Why did Raina feel remorseful?
After hearing about the great heroic victory that was won by her fiance Sergius, she felt sorry
for having suspected him. She doubted him and delayed their marriage. She thought that his
heroic ideas and qualities were untrue; they were mere imagination because of reading Byron
and Pushkin, and because they were so delighted with the Opera at Bucharest. She believed that
when he went into real battle and put those heroic ideas to test, he would prove so poor
compared to the clever Russian officers.
[Link] contrast is shown in the furnishing of Raina's room?
The room is decorated in the worst possible taste. The furniture of the room is not like the style
of West Europe. It is half rich Bulgarian, half cheap Viennese which reflects the awful taste of
Catherine Petkoff. Though she can be a perfect mountain farmer's wife, she has a great desire to
seem as civilized and as Viennese as possible.
[Link] is this contrast also displayed when Raina talks to the soldier?
At first Raina was offended when the soldier (Bluntschli) spoke scornfully about her fiance and
mocked him. Raina was also angry about his cowardice by hiding behind a lady's curtain. But
then she is attracted to him and she is secretly happy that her fiance is not as perfect as she has
earlier believed. She decides to act a noble part by saving the soldier's life.
10. "This is the happiest night of my life if only there are no fugitives.
Comment.
That was said by Raina to her mother before parting. Catherine gave Raina good news about her
fiance who had gained a great victory over the Serbs. He was the hero of the hour. That news
filled Raina with joy and happiness; but then they were interrupted by the maid, Louka, who
told them that the Serbs were chased and killed by their own soldiers. Raina felt sorry for the
fugitives and wished that her Bulgarian soldiers wouldn't be so cruel to them. That late news
threw a shadow on her joy and happiness. But for that fugitive's business, that would have been
the happiest night of her life. There is also irony in this line because it indeed turns out to be
the happiest nights in Raina's life because there is a fugitive.
[Link] happened to startle Raina just as she was going to read herself to
sleep?
As she selected a book and got into bed to read herself to sleep, she heard a distant shot that
broke the silence of the night. She was listening with fear when two more shots, much nearer,
followed which startled her so that she got out of bed and quickly blew out the candles, put her
fingers in her ears and hurried back to bed.
[Link] did the fugitive describe the cavalry charge?
He said that the Bulgarians threw a regiment of cavalry on a battery of machine guns which was
a suicidal thing to do. The Serbs had the wrong ammunition, so they could not fire their guns,
and if the guns went off every single man and horse would be slaughtered. The fugitive
described Sergius by saying that he did that like an operatic tenor, he was handsome with
flashing eyes and lovely mustache shouting his war cry and attacking like Don Quixote at the
windmills and was imagining that he was doing the cleverest thing. He told Raina that the Serbs
laughed at that funny sight but later their laughter turned into misery when they knew that
they had the wrong size of ammunition.
13. Describe the Man as he appeared in Act (1).
He is about 35, in a very bad condition, covered with mud and blood and snow. He is dressed as
a Serbian artillery officer. He has a strong neck and shoulders, with an obstinate looking head
with hair cut short. He has clear, quick eyes and a good mouth. In spite of his wretched
condition he seems to be well possessed and so sure of himself.
[Link] weapon did the Man use to make sure that Raina wouldn't cry for
help?
At first the man threatened Raina not to raise her voice or he would shoot her dead, but she told
him that she wasn't afraid of death. Then he thought of a better way to force her to be silent and
not cry for help. He took away her cloak and told her that she would have to face the soldiers in
her night-gown, which she couldn't do. Indeed it wasn't the weapon of a gentleman but he had
to use it to protect himself and save his soul.
15. How can you tell an old soldier from a young one?
From the fugitive's point of view, we can always tell the difference between an old soldier by the
inside of his holsters and cartridge boxes; an old soldier always carries food instead of pistols
and ammunition. But young soldiers who are full of enthusiasm carry pistols and cartridges. On
the battlefield, young soldiers are so wild and rash and want to die for their country while old
ones come in big numbers, they know it's no use trying to fight. They do their best to stay alive.
16. What brought the Russian officer to the Petkoffs' house?
A Russian officer and a group of Bulgarian soldiers came to the Petkoffs' house looking for an
enemy soldier who was seen by the neighbors climbing up the water-pipe of Raina's bed-room
balcony. The Russian officer and his men were so mad and wild and wanted to search the whole
house for the runaway.
17. "A narrow shave; but a miss is as good as a mile. Comment.
These words were said by the fugitive to Raina when the Russian officer and his group of
soldiers left the room. He was so lucky that he escaped death. Indeed it was a narrow escape,
but his neck was safe in the end. Never mind whether it was a narrow escape or a large escape.
These words reflect the Man's gratitude for Raina for saving his life. He promised to be indebted
to her on the last day of his life.
[Link] was Raina's reaction to the Man's rude remarks about her future
husband?
When the fugitive told Raina about the cavalry attack on the Serbs, and described her future
husband who was leading the troops as a stupid, clown, mad officer she got very angry and
ordered him to leave. She deliberately kissed Sergius' portrait in front of him.
19. Why was it better for the fugitive that Raina wasn't
professional?
It was better for the Man that Raina was not professional because if she was, she wouldn't have
taken him in, saved his life and hid him behind her curtains. She wouldn't have treated him so
kindly or given him chocolate cream to eat. Instead, she would have given him to her people or
might have killed him herself.
[Link] was Sergius' victory unprofessional?
The Man believed that Serguis' victory was unprofessional because he threw his
regiment of cavalry on a battery of machine guns. That was an act of suicide
because if the machine guns went off, not a horse or a man would ever survive.
The Man said that Serguis was only lucky to win that battle because the guns
didn't go off because the Serbs had the wrong ammunition, and so they couldn't
fire a single bullet.
[Link] did the Man offend Raina?
He offended her many times; first when he described her fiance, Sergius as a great fool who led
a suicidal attack on battery machine guns on horse back. He described her hero as an operatic
tenor and Don thinking that he was doing the finest thing. He also Quixote where charged
foolishly at the windmills insinuated that her future husband must have known that the Serbs
had the wrong ammunition which made him charge safely. He told her that Sergius was trying
to pull his horse back which meant that he was a coward.
[Link] does the Man prefer capture to climbing down the water- pipe?
The Man was so worn out and exhausted that he couldn't stand the idea of climbing down the
water- pipe. He preferred to stay in Raina's bed-room and be captured because capture only
meant death, and death meant undisturbed long sleep while climbing down meant exerting a
lot of effort which he couldn't perform.
[Link] does Raina boast of her family?
Raina is very proud of her family and boasts so much of it. She tells the fugitive that she is a
Petkoff, one of the richest families in Bulgaria; that her father is a major in the Bulgarian army;
their house is the only one in Bulgaria that has two rows of windows and stairs inside it to get
up and down by. She adds that they have the only library in the whole of Bulgaria and that they
go to the capital Bucharest every year for the opera season.
24. Although Sergius does not appear in Act 1, we are given impressions of
him by four people. Discuss.
a) The author, Bernard Shaw describes his photograph as that of "an extremely handsome
officer.
b) Catherine describes him as the hero of the hour and the idol of the regiment.......
c) He is Raina's hero and she worships him.
d) He is described by Bluntschli as a great fool who has acted like Don Quixote and an operatic
tenor.
[Link] is the significance of the cream chocolate ?
The fugitive who comes into Raina's bed-room is an old professional Swiss soldier fighting for
the Serbs. He tells Raina that he never carries any ammunition, instead he carries chocolate
because according to his point of view, he finds food and chocolate more useful to soldiers. Here
Shaw, the writer, reflects his idea about war. Shaw believes that there is no glory in war and he
uses the chocolate cream to satire that subject. Raina also calls the Man the "chocolate cream
soldier" when he refuses to climb down the waterpipe because he doesn't want to exert any
effort.
Additional Questions:
1. What did Catherine blame her daughter, Raina for?
2. What little secret did Raina want her mother to keep from Sergius?
3. Why did Louka come and interrupt Raina and her mother?
4. "I wish our people were not so cruel. What glory is there in killing
wretched fugitives." Comment.
5. "I have no ammunition. What use are cartridges in battle? I always
carry chocolate instead, and I finished the last cake of that hours ago."
Comment.
6. The Man believes that Sergius is the maddest man he has ever met. He
should be court-marshalled." Discuss.
7. "Of all the fools Let loose on a field of battle, that man must be the
maddest." Comment.
8. Sergius' military charge was as foolish as Don Quixote's charge on the
Windmills. Discuss.
9. When were Raina's ideals of courage, patriotism and manhood shaken?
Themes in the play:
Romanticism- idealism- attack against romanticism and idealism- the romantic idea of war-
the ugliness of war- war is destructive- satire against war social status/ ladder - Appearance
versus reality.
Arms and the Man is most obviously an attack on the false ideals of warfare and
the soldier’s profession. Late nineteenth century British society, especially the
aristocratic element, tended to see war as noble and soldiers as brave,
courageous, fearing nothing—resolved to conquer or die. Soldiers themselves did
not think this way, as Shaw has Bluntschli make clear. Shaw is not opposed to
war when necessary, but he does demand that it be seen for what it is—war
makes men tired and hungry, afraid and nervous. In the person of Bluntschli and
in his comments about battle, Shaw establishes the opposition with Raina and
Sergius, the arch romantics of the play. The satire of the play is aimed at the
romanticview of war. From this point of view, Arms and the Man is a classic
statement of the anti-romantic view of life. Life is serious for Shaw and
Bluntschli, and romantic idealism makes life because of its unreality.
In the beginning of the play, all characters have a romantic and idealist idea
about war. When Serigus foolishly wins the battle against the Serbs disobeying
his leaders, he was doing that just to show Raina that he is brave and achieves
recognition from everyone. Catherine says that he is “the hero of the hour”, and
Raina decides to worship him. However, this love is based on false ideas. She
does not really love him; she only loves his winning the battle. Bluntschli also
destroys Raina’s romantic idea of war and heroism when he proves that the best
soldiers carry food and not ammunition. For Shaw, war is simply a way for men
to occupy themselves. The characters slowly get rid of the false ideas of romantic
love. For example, Raina does appear to love Sergius in the beginning of the play,
but when she falls in love with Blunstshcli, she realizes her love for Sergius was
superficial.
By contrast, Louka, though engaged to her fellow servant Nicola, does not appear
to have ever been in love with him, and is willing to work hard to marry into a
higher rank. Romantic love does not seem to be a factor in her decisions.
Raina is the play’s most obvious romantic. Her relationship with Sergius shows
almost all of the romantic ideals: they are both beautiful, refined, and appear to
be infatuated with each other. However this romantic, idealistic vision of love is
false. The idealistic Sergius lustfully falls in love with a maid, Louka. and Raina is
in love with the anti-romantic Bluntschli.
It turns out Sergius’s cavalry charge was bad, and the charge only succeeded
because the Serbs had no ammunition. Sergius is not the perfect soldier. And the
real soldier, Bluntschli, runs away from battle and carries sweets instead of a
gun. He also speaks honestly about the violence of war. Shaw shows us that war
is ugly.
The Nature of Social Status:
The social ladder of the characters in the play is one of the most important
themes. Louka wants to be more than a servant, whereas Nicola seems content
with his job as a servant. Bluntschli appears to be middle class, but reveals later
that he is even richers than the Petkoffs. Petkoff and Catherine want Raina to
strengthen the family’s position by marrying the rich Sergius, but later agree
that she marry Bluntschli, though he fought with the Serbs, just because he is
rich. Characters want to unite noble families and improve financial situations.
