1. 1 (a) : The things that Nicola knew about Raina
that would break off her match with Sergius were that she had given refuge to a
fugitive soldier of the Serbian army. Raina had even seemed to have been quite
taken up by ‘The Man’ – having interacted for quite some time in her room.
Raina had thus been unpatriotic as well as disloyal to Sergius. If the ‘secret’
were to be revealed he presumes that Sergius would break off the match with
Raina.
(b) : “turning on him” would be reacting
immediately to what he had to say and also immediately turning to face him. It
also shows her surprise at that Nicola should have noticed and known such
things.
(c) : Nicola advised Louka to be respectful
and to make sure that Cathrine felt that no matter she (Louka) knew about Raina
/ Catherine and the family she could keep family secrets to herself and not
betray the family by revealing them.
(d) : According to Nicola, hiss advice was
practicable because in so behaving she would endear herself to them, as they
expect such service from their servants (“That’s what they like”). In so doing
they would benefit from the favour of the family (“that’s how you’ll make the
most out of them”) – he is referring to, especially, the favour he seeks from
them in being important customers to his proposed shop in Sofia and for
bringing most customers to them.
(e) : Louka did not agree with Nicola
because she looks down on such behavior – she feels that Nicola believes in
such behavior because he has “the soul of a servant” – however, Louka feels that
she is an equal of the Petkoffs – she has been described as a “proud girl” who
is “defiant” in nature – her defiance bordering on “insolence” ! She thus feels
that she should speak her mind and act without subservience to any other
person.
2.2
(a) : Catherine and Petkoff were discussing the
treaty which had been made between the Bulgarians and the Serbs after the
defeat of the Serbs at the battle of Slivinitza. Petkoff had informed Catherine
that the treaty had been signed three days previously. Catherine had accused
Paul of having been forced by the Austrians to make peace.
(b) : Catherine said that that rather than
making peace with the Serbians and their Austrian masters, she would have
annexed Serbia to Bulgaria and made Prince Alexander of Bulgaria, the Emperor
of the Balkans.
(c) : The other reason that Paul gave for
not having taken the course of action that Catherine had suggested was that in very
lengthy process of subduing the whole Austrian empire hee would have been kept
too long from Catherine, whom he had already missed greatly !
(d) : Catherine’s antagonistic attitude to
her husband over the peace made with the enemy Serbs and Austrians was
forgotten and set aside for the moment as she felt the affection of her husband
for her – she reached over to squeeze her husbands had affectionately and thus
shared this moment of tendeness.
(e) : The short interaction tells me that
Paul Petkoff is a sg\hrewd man and knows his wife well – he has learnt from his
years of marriage how to deflect his wife’s ire and how to change an
uncomfortable conversation in a manner which would succeed with her.
3.3
Contrast the characters of Louka and Nicola.
Louka was introduced to us in the first
Act. The dramatist described her as a “handsome proud girl”, “so defiant” that
she “is almost insolent”. However, while describing Nicola, George Bernard Shaw
mentions certain characteristics which immediately reveal that these two
characters are very different persons. While Louka has been described as a
“girl”, Nicola has been described as “a middle-aged gentleman”. The two do not match in age and we are eager
to see if there are any other characteristics which will reveal that they are
more compatible since we also hear from Nicola that they are to be married !
However, the more we hear of them the less alike they seem to be.
Compared to Louka who true her character
turns back to Nicola who is lecturing her, as to a child, in “angry disdain”,
Nicola has been described as having a “cool temperament”. Unlike, Luka whom we
can expect to venther feelings- we are told that even with Catherine, her
mistress, “she goes as far as she dares”. Nicola, with his “clear and keen
intelligence” and the “imperturbability of the accurate calculator” is not one
to wear his heart on his sleeve. He has planned his future taking all factors
into account and calmly waits for the outcomes to fall in place.
Louka on the other hand has a keen sense
that where and what she is not where and whom she would like to be in the
future. Indeed, she can hardly bear her circumstances. In the first act Luka
swaggers as she leaves Raina’s room, having made a grimace showing her disgust
at the sham of Raina reproving her for showing her how to open the window and
thus disobey her mother ! Also, in Act 1, Louka has noticed the revolver lying
on the ottoman and has watched Raina’s pretence as she tries to feign
indignation that someone should be in her room. She openly shows her disdain
for Raina as she “purses her lips secretively and laughs insolently” annoying
Raina so much that Raina slams the door after her. But where Nicola looks
clearly nto the future, Louka looks at the present world around her very
attentively and doesn’t miss much.
It is, thus, that Louka accuses Nicola of
having the “soul of a servant” and protesting that he will never put the soul
of a servant into her. Nicola, on the other hand has no issue with such
behavior claiming that “that’s the secret of success in service”.
4. 4 Catherine and Paul Petkoff are the parents of
Raina. We had seen Catherine in Act 1, but while, we had heard that Paul
Petkoff was “at Slivinitza fighting for his country” and Raina has boasted that
she was proud of her father who held the highest command of any Bulgarian in
the army – he was a major, it is only in in Act 2 that we see him in person.
The first difference we notice in the
personalities of Catherine and Paul is in their attitude to war. Catherine is a
vociferous patriot. She takes immense pride that her future son-in-law has been
the hero of the battle at Slivinitza. She remonstrates with her husband about
the treaty of peace which has recently been signed with the Serbs and their
Austrian masters and would rather that Serbia be annexed to Bulgaria and that
Prince Alexandra of Bulgaria be declared the Emperor of the Balkans ! Paul, on
the other hand, while being “greatly pleased with the military rank which the
war has thrust on him” is “obviously glad to be home again”. He is not as
enthused with Sergius tactics in gaining victory for the Bulgarians in the
recent battle while Catherine the moment she heard of the victory hadn’t
sufficient praise for Sergius.
Both of them are very keen to emphasize
their status in Bulgarian society – we are tolf by the dramatist that he is
“naturally unambitious except as to his income and his importance in local
society”. However, Catherine seems more keep to project their family to others.
It is Catherine who doubtfully remarks “I hope you behaved yourself before all
those Russian officers” to which Paul replies “I did my best. I took care to
let them know we have a library.”
However, Catherine and Paul differ in their
perceptions of what really makes and impression on others. Catherine, is
extremely proud of the bell she has had installed in their library to call
Nicola. Paul cannot understand the need for it and feels it is far simpler to
shout for him – he admonished by Catherine who remarks – “Civilised people
never shout for their servants.”. However, when Paul when Paul retorts that
“Civilised people don’t hang out their washing to dry where visitors can see
it” Catherine doesn’t sgree.
Finally, they disagree most importantly in
their opinion of Sergius – Paul can hardly tolerate him remarking – “he bores my
life” ! The dramatist tells us “Catherine iss hardly less enthusiastic about
him than her daughter and must less reserved in shewing her
enthusiasm……Petkofff is distinctively less disposed to make a fuss about him.”
5. 5 Portray the character of Sergius…….
We first see
Sergius’ portrait which stands on the chest of drawers in Raina’s room. From
the portrait we see that he is “an extremely handsome officer” who has a lofty
bearing” and “magnetic glance”. We know that the picture is true as his enemy
(The Man) notes that he is “A regular handsome fellow”. When he does appear in
Act 2 – the description of him shows that portrait accurately pictured him. He
is definitely a ladies man and Catherine and Raina express the response of
women to him. As Shaw tells us : “Catherine is hardly less enthusiastic about
him than her daughter, and much less reserved in showing her enthusiasm.”
The news that he
has led the Bulgarian army to victory over the Serbs in the battle at
Slivinitza by taking matters into his own hands seemed to lift Raina’s opinion
of him. She had had misgivings about him wondering if he would really be able
to prove himself in war – but he has and he is now her “Hero !” . However, ‘The
Man’s’ remarks regarding his adventurous assault on the Serbian cannon, begin
to cast a doubt on his practicality and wisdom. The man had remarked “Of all
the fools ever let loose on a field of battle, that man must be the very
maddest “. The Man had gone on to explain “He and his regiment simply committed
suicide”. So, we begin to doubt Sergius’ judgment in war. Thus when Shaw says
that Sergius has “the physical hardihood, the high spirit and the susceptible
imagination of a mountaineer chief” we tend to believe that Sergius acts on the
spur of the moment and in a rush of passion, as he did at Slivinitza. We can
admire his courage and passion, but must side with more reasonable perceptions
like that of ‘The Man’ and Paul Petkoff that such an attitude is not desirable
of one who is seeking command over certain personnel in the army. We can
understand why fellow soldiers think he is foolish and suicidal and why he has
not been granted a promotion in the Bulgarian army.
Shaw has given
us further information regarding Sergius’ character – his romantic nature. He
compares Sergius to the English romantic poet Byron. His similarities to Byron
are as follows :
·
“his brooding on the perpetual failure, not only
of others, but of himself, to live up to his ideas” – we have noticed that ‘The
Man’ and Paul Petkoff fail to acknowledge his daring which led to the victory
in battle – they have exclusively focused on the lack of military judgement –
we have at this stage not heard him speak for himself, but we will surely do so
later. It is only persons like Catherine who believe in his spirited response
to life.
·
“his cynical scorn of humanity”, the
“unworthiness of the world in disregarding” his concepts. At this stage, once
again, we can only see whether his future nehaviour will reveal this aspect of
his character.
·
“his jejune credulity as to the absolute
validity of his concepts” – we have noted that Serguis embarked on his plan to
defeat the Serbs and took matters into his own hands when he was convinced of
his decision defying his senior officer’s caution.
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