for class xi 2015 : DAY 4 : ARMS AND THE MAN : ACT 3

Now we come to the Falling action and the Resolution of the crisis into which the action fell - of course, the crisis continues and the resolution is only worked out till the very end of the play - that is so that we the audience don't leave the theater before hand !

Act III

Summary

This act shifts to the Petkoffs' library, a setting which Shaw uses to let us know that this is a very poor excuse for a library; it consists of only a single room with a single shelf of old worn-out paper-covered novels; the rest of the room is more like a sitting room with another ottoman in it, just like the one in Raina's room in the first act. The room is also fitted with an old kitchen table which serves as a writing table. At the opening of the act, Bluntschli is busy at work preparing orders, with a businesslike regularity, for the disposition of the Bulgarian army. Petkoff is more of a hindrance than a help, for he constantly interrupts to see if he can be of any help. Finally, his wife tells him to stop interrupting. Petkoff, in turn, complains that all that he needs to be comfortable is his favorite old coat, which he can't find. Catherine rings for Nicola and tells the servant to go to the blue closet and fetch his master's old coat. Petkoff is so certain that it is not there that he is willing to make a bet of an expensive piece of jewelry with her. Sergius is about to enter a bet also, but Nicola suddenly returns with the coat. Petkoff is completely astonished and perplexed when Nicola announces that it was indeed hanging in the blue closet.

At this moment, Bluntschli finishes the last order, gives it to Sergius to take to his soldiers, and then asks Petkoff to follow to make sure that Sergius doesn't make a mistake. Petkoff asks his wife to come along because she is good at giving commands. Left alone with Raina, Bluntschli expresses his astonishment at an army where "officers send for their wives to keep discipline."

Raina then tells Captain Bluntschli how much better he looks now that he is clean, and she inquires about his experiences after he left her bedroom. She lets him know that the entire story has been told so many times that both her father and her fiancé are aware of the story, but not the identities of the people involved. In fact, Raina believes that "if Sergius knew, he would challenge you and kill you in a duel." Bluntschli says that he hopes that Raina won't tell, but Raina tells him of her desire to be perfectly open and honest with Sergius. Because of Bluntschli, Raina says, she has now told two lies — one to the soldiers looking for him in her room and another one just now about the chocolate pudding — and she feels terrible about lying; Bluntschli cannot take her seriously. In fact, he tells her that when "you strike that noble attitude and speak in that thrilling voice, I admire you; but I find it impossible to believe a single word you say." At first, Raina is indignant, but then she is highly amused that Bluntschli has seen through the disguise that she has used since she was a child: "You know, I've always gone on like that," she tells him.

When Raina asks him what he thought of her for giving him a portrait of herself, Bluntschli tells her that he never received it because he never reached into the pocket of the coat where Raina had put it. He is not concerned until he learns that Raina inscribed upon it "To my Chocolate Cream Soldier." In the meantime, Bluntschli confesses, he pawned the coat, thinking that was the safest place for it. Raina is furious, and she accuses him of having a "shopkeeping mind." At this point, they are interrupted by Louka, who brings Bluntschli some letters and telegrams, which inform him that his father has died and that Bluntschli has inherited several hotels which he will have to manage. He must leave immediately. Alarmed, Raina follows him out.

Nicola enters and sees Louka with her sleeve rolled up so as to expose her bruised arm, and he reprimands her. Then they argue over the duties and obligations of being a servant. Louka says that she absolutely refuses to act like a servant, and Nicola answers that he is quite willing to release her from their engagement if she can better herself. Then, he would have another customer for his shop, one who would bring him good business. When Sergius enters, Nicola leaves immediately, and Sergius, noticing the bruise on Louka's arm, asks if he can cure it now by kissing it. Louka reminds him of his place and of hers. She wonders aloud if Sergius is a brave man and if poor people are any less brave than wealthy people. Sergius answers that in war any man can have courage: "the courage to rage and [to] kill is cheap." Louka then asks if Sergius has true courage; that is, would he dare to marry someone whom he loved if that person was socially beneath him? She asserts that she thinks that Sergius would "be afraid of what other people would say," and thus he would never have the courage to marry beneath him. Sergius contradicts her until Louka tells him that Raina will never marry him, that Raina is going to marry the Swiss soldier. As she turns to go, Sergius grabs her and holds her firmly; as he threatens her and questions the truth of her accusation, she wonders if anyone would believe the fact that she is now in his arms. He releases her with the assertion that if he ever touches her again, it will be as her fiancé.

As Louka leaves, Bluntschli enters and is immediately told by Sergius where he is to be on the following morning; they will duel on horseback and with sabres. Bluntschli maintains that as the challenged party, it is his privilege to choose the weapons, and he plans to have a machine gun. But when Bluntschli sees that Sergius is serious, he agrees to meet him with a sabre, but he refuses to fight on horseback because it is too dangerous. Raina enters then, in time to hear their last arrangements. Bluntschli explains that he is an expert with the sword and that he will see to it that neither of them are hurt; afterward, he will leave immediately for Switzerland and no one will ever hear of the incident. Sergius then accuses Bluntschli of receiving favors from Raina which he (Sergius) has never enjoyed — that is, she received Bluntschli in her bedroom. Bluntschli points out that she did so "with a pistol at her head. . . . I'd have blown out her brains if she'd uttered a cry." Sergius cannot accept the story that there is nothing between the two because if it were true, then Captain Bluntschli would not have come back to the Petkoff house. He could have sent the coat; he came only to see Raina.

When Sergius makes further accusations, Raina reminds him that she saw him and Louka in each other's arms, and she now understands about their relationship. Sergius realizes that his and Raina's engagement is over, and he therefore cancels the duel with Bluntschli, who is pleased to get out of it since he didn't want to fight in the first place. Raina, however, is furious, and she tells Bluntschli that Sergius had Louka spy on them and that Sergius rewarded Louka by making love to her. As they continue to argue, Bluntschli tries to get Sergius to stop because he is losing the argument. Suddenly, Bluntschli asks where Louka is. Raina maintains that she is listening at the door, and as Sergius stoutly denies such a thing, Raina goes to the door and drags Louka inside; she was, in fact, eavesdropping. Louka is not ashamed; she says that her love is at stake and that her feelings for Sergius are stronger than Raina's feelings for the "chocolate cream soldier."

At this point, Major Petkoff enters in short sleeves; his old coat is being mended. When Nicola enters with it, Raina helps him on with the coat and deftly removes the inscribed portrait from the coat pocket. Thus, when her father reaches for the photograph to ask Raina the meaning of a photograph of her with the inscription: "Raina, to her Chocolate Cream Soldier: A Souvenir," the photo is missing! Major Petkoff is confused and asks Sergius if he is the "chocolate cream soldier." The Major responds indignantly that he is not. Then Bluntschli explains that he is the "chocolate cream soldier" and that Raina saved his life. Petkoff is further confused when Raina points out that Louka is the true object of Sergius' affections, despite the fact that Louka is engaged to Nicola, who denies this and says that he is hoping for Louka's good recommendation when he opens his shop.

Suddenly Louka feels as though she is being bartered, and she demands an apology; when Sergius kisses her hand in apology, she reminds him that his touch now makes her his "affianced wife," and even though Sergius had forgotten his earlier statement, he still holds true to his word and claims Louka for his own. At this moment, Catherine enters and is shocked to find Louka and Sergius together. Louka explains that Raina is fond only of Bluntschli, and before Raina can answer, Bluntschli explains that such a young and beautiful girl as Raina could not be in love with a thirty-four-year-old soldier who is an incurable romantic; the only reason he came back, he says, was not to return the coat but to get just one more glance at Raina, but he fears that she is no more than seventeen years old. Raina then tells Bluntschli that he is indeed foolishly romantic if he thinks that she, a twenty-three-year-old woman, is a seventeen-year-old girl. At this point, Bluntschli asks permission to be a suitor for Raina's hand. When he is reminded that Sergius comes from an old family which kept at least twenty horses, Bluntschli begins to enumerate all of the possessions (including two hundred horses) which he owns; he fails, however, to mention that his possessions are connected with the hotel business that he has just inherited. His list of possessions is so impressive that it is agreed that he shall indeed marry Raina, who is delighted with her "chocolate cream soldier." As Bluntschli leaves, with the promise of being back in two weeks, Sergius looks in wonder and comments, "What a man! Is he a man!"

I look forward to seeing you in the next class !

FOR CLASS XI : DAY 3 : ARMS AND THE MAN ACT 2 SUMMARY

The Act 2 summary is longer than the Act 1 summary - this is so because the play now rises to a CRISIS ! Do remember that a story only occurs when there has been some upset to one plans !

Please read this summary well and write the same in your Literature note book. Think about what you're writing !

Act II

Summary

Some four months have passed since the first act, and a peace treaty has just been signed. The setting for this act is in Major Petkoff's garden. Louka is standing onstage in a disrespectful attitude, smoking a cigarette and talking to Nicola, a middle-aged servant who has "the complacency of the servant who values himself on his rank in servitude." The opening dialogue informs us that Nicola is engaged to Louka, but that he has reservations about her deportment. He refuses to marry a person who is "disrespectful" to her superiors; he plans to open a shop in Sofia, and he thinks that the success of the shop will depend on the goodwill of his employees, and he knows that if they spread bad reports about him, his shop will never be successful. When Louka maintains that she knows secret things about the mistress and the master, Nicola reminds her that all servants know secrets about their employers, but the secret of being a good servant is to keep these things secret and to always be discreet; if servants begin telling secrets, then no one will ever employ them again. Louka is furious and says that Nicola has "the soul of a servant"; Nicola agrees — "That is," he says, "the secret of success in service."

Their discussion is interrupted by the entrance of Major Petkoff, an "insignificant, unpolished man" who has just returned from the war. He sends Louka into the house to get his wife and to also bring him some coffee. Catherine comes out and welcomes her husband, and he tells her that the war is over, the peace treaty is signed, and all is now peaceful. When he inquires about his wife's health, she tells him that she has a sore throat. The Major maintains that the soreness comes "from washing [her] neck every day." He himself does not believe in these silly modern notions of washing. "It can't be good for the health; it's not natural. There was an Englishman at Philippopolis who used to wet himself all over with cold water every morning when he got up." He maintains that the English climate is so dirty that the English have to wash, but others don't; his father, for example, lived to be ninety-eight years old and never had a bath in his entire life.

As Catherine is explaining to her husband about the installation of an electric bell in the library, the Major is confused over its use because — in his opinion — if he wants someone, he will shout for them. At this time, Major Sergius Saranoff arrives; he is "a tall romantically handsome man" and is the original of the portrait in Raina's room in the first act. He is roundly congratulated for his famous charge against the Serbs. Sergius, however, does not appreciate the compliment, because even though he was successful, he participated in a maneuver where the Russian consultants failed; thus, he did not accomplish his great success by the rule book. "Two Cossack colonels had their regiments routed on the most correct principles of scientific warfare. [Furthermore,] Two major-generals got killed strictly according to military etiquette," and now the two colonels who failed are promoted to generals and he (Sergius) who succeeded is still a major; therefore, he has resigned.

As Catherine is protesting that Sergius should not resign — the women, she says, are for him — Sergius suddenly asks, "Where is Raina?" At that very moment, Raina enters sweepingly, announcing, "Raina is here." Sergius drops chivalrously on one knee to kiss her hand. While Raina's father is impressed with the fact that Raina "always appears at the right moment," her mother is annoyed because she knows that Raina always listens at doorways in order to make her entrance at exactly the right moment. Catherine pronounces it to be "an abominable habit." 

Raina then welcomes her father home, and again they discuss Sergius' military career. Sergius now views war in a very cynical manner; according to him, there is nothing heroic nor romantic about it. "Soldiering is the coward's art of attacking mercilessly when you are strong, and keeping out of harm's way when you are weak. . . . Never fight [your enemy] on equal terms." Furthermore, he now views soldiering as having too much of the taint of being a trade business, and he despises trade; this is, of course, an allusion to Captain Blutschli, who, of course, is in trade, and it is also a reference to Louka's fiancé, Nicola, who wants to go into trade. To prove his point, Sergius asks them all to consider the case of the Swiss officer (Bluntschli) who was able to deal very shrewdly and to make clever bargains concerning prisoners. As a result, soldiering has been "reduced to a matter of trading and bartering." He adds that the man was merely "a commercial traveler in uniform."

Since the subject has come up, Major Petkoff encourages Sergius to tell the story about the Swiss officer who climbed into a Bulgarian lady's bedroom in order to escape capture. Raina, recognizing herself as the woman of the story, pretends to be offended. Major Petkoff therefore tries to get Sergius to help him with some army details, and Catherine instructs Sergius to remain with Raina while Catherine discusses some business with her husband. By this ruse, she is able to leave the two young people alone.

Alone together, Raina looks upon Sergius with admiration and worship: "My hero! My king!" — to which he responds, "My queen!" Raina sees Sergius only in terms of the knight of olden times who goes forth to fight heroically, guided only by his lady's love. She believes that the two of them have truly found what she calls the perfect "higher love." When Louka is heard entering the house, Raina leaves to get her hat so that they can go for a walk and be alone. In Louka's presence, Sergius swaggers a bit and then asks Louka if she knows what "higher love" is. Whatever it is, he says, he finds it "fatiguing" to keep it up: "one feels the need of some relief after it." He then embraces Louka, who warns him to be careful, or, at least, if he won't let her go, he should step back where they cannot be seen. After she makes a sly comment about the possibility of Raina's spying on them, Sergius defends Raina and their "higher love," and Louka maintains that she will never understand "gentlefolk" because while Sergius is professing love for Raina, he is flirting with her behind Raina's back, and, furthermore, Raina is doing the same thing. Sergius tries to reprimand Louka for gossiping so about her mistress, but he is visibly upset and dramatically strikes his forehead. He insists that Louka tell him who his rival is, but she will not do so, especially since he has just reprimanded her for talking about her mistress. She tells him that she never actually saw the man; she only heard his voice outside Miss Raina's bedroom. But she knows that if the man ever comes here again, Raina will marry him. Sergius is furious, and he grips her so tightly that he bruises her arm; he reminds her that because of her gossiping, she has the "soul of a servant," the same accusation which she made earlier about Nicola. Louka retaliates by pointing out that Sergius himself is a liar, and, furthermore, she maintains that she is worth "six of her [Raina]." As Louka begins to leave, Sergius wants to apologize for hurting a woman, no matter what the status of that woman is, but Louka will not accept an apology; she wants more. When Sergius wants to pay her for the injury, Louka says that she wants him to kiss her bruised arm. Surprised, Sergius refuses, and Louka majestically picks up the serving pieces and leaves, just as Raina enters, dressed in the latest fashion of Vienna — of the previous year. Immediately, Catherine calls down that her husband needs Sergius for a few minutes to discuss a business matter.

When Sergius is gone, Catherine enters, and she and Raina express their irritation that "that Swiss" told the entire story of his night in Raina's bedroom. Raina maintains that if she had him here now she would "cram him with chocolate creams." Catherine is frightened that if Sergius finds out the truth about what happened, the engagement will be broken off. Suddenly, however, Raina reveals that she would not care, and that, furthermore, she has always wanted to say something dreadful so as to shock Sergius' propriety, "to scandalize the five senses out of him." She half-hopes that he will find out about her "chocolate cream soldier." She then leaves her mother in a state of shock.

Louka enters and announces the presence of a Serbian soldier at the door, a soldier who is asking for the lady of the house; he has sent his card bearing his name, "Captain Bluntschli," thus giving us for the first time the name of the "chocolate cream soldier." When Catherine reads the name and hears that the caller is Swiss, she realizes that he is the "chocolate cream soldier" and that he is returning the old coat of Major Petkoff's which they gave him when he left. Catherine gives Louka strict instructions to make sure that the library door is shut; then, Louka is to send in the captain and have Nicola bring the visitor's bag to her. When Louka returns with the captain, Catherine frantically explains that her husband and future son-in-law are here and that he must leave immediately. Captain Bluntschli agrees reluctantly and explains that he only wants to take the coat out of his bag, but Catherine urges him to leave it; she will have his bag sent to him later. As Bluntschli is writing out his address, Major Petkoff comes in and greets the captain warmly and enthusiastically. Immediately, Major Petkoff tells the captain that they are in desperate need of help in working out the details of sending troops and horses to Philippopolis. Captain Bluntschli immediately pinpoints the problem, and as they are about to go into the library to explain the details, Raina enters and bumps into the captain and surprisedly exclaims loudly: "Oh! the chocolate cream soldier." She immediately regains her composure and explains that she was cooking a kind of dessert and had made a chocolate cream soldier for its decoration and that Nicola sat a pile of plates on it. At that moment, Nicola brings in the captain's bag, saying that Catherine told him to do so; when Catherine denies it, Major Petkoff thinks that Nicola must be losing his mind. He reprimands Nicola (for doing what Nicola has been commanded to do), and at this point Nicola is so confused that he drops the bag, almost hitting the Major's foot. As the women try to placate the Major, he, in turn, urges Captain Bluntschli to remain as their house guest until he has to return to Switzerland. Even though Catherine has been subtly suggesting that Captain Bluntschli leave, Bluntschli agrees to remain.

CLASS XI 2015 DAY 2 : DETAILED SUMMARY OF ACT 1

Having got the whole story, it is now time to study each Act (An Act is a section of a play - like the chapter of a book. Our play is divided into 3 Acts).

It is important that you know what happens in each Act ans don't confuse the events of one act with that of the other.

Act I

Summary

The play opens at night in a lady's bedchamber in a small Bulgarian town in 1885, the year of the Serbo-Bulgarian war. The room is decorated in the worst possible taste, a taste reflected in the mistress' (Catherine Petkoff's) desire to seem as cultured and as Viennese as possible. But the room is furnished with only cheap bits of Viennese things; the other pieces of furniture come from the Turkish Ottoman Empire, reflecting the long occupation by the Turks of the Balkan peninsula. On the balcony, standing and staring at the romantic beauty of the night, "intensely conscious that her own youth and beauty are a part of it," is young Raina Petkoff. Just inside, conspicuously visible, is a box of chocolate creams, which will play an important part later in this act and which will ultimately become a symbol of the type of war which Shaw will satirize.

Raina's mother, Catherine Petkoff, is a woman who could easily pass for a splendid specimen of the wife of a mountain fanner, but is determined to be a Viennese lady. As the play begins, Catherine is excited over the news that the Bulgarian forces have just won a splendid battle at Slivnitza against the Serbians, and the "hero of the hour, the idol of the regiment" who led them to victory is Raina's fiancé, Sergius Saranoff. She describes how Sergius boldly led a cavalry charge into the midst of the Serbs, scattering them in all directions. Raina wonders if such a popular hero will care any longer for her little affections, but she is nonetheless delighted about the news. She wonders if heroes such as Sergius esteem such heroic ideas because they have read too much Byron and Pushkin. Real life, as she knows, is quite different.

They are interrupted by the entry of Louka, a handsome and proud peasant girl, who announces that the Serbs have been routed and have scattered throughout the town and that some of the fugitives have been chased into the neighborhood. Thus, the doors must be secured since there might be fighting and shooting in the street below. Raina is annoyed that the fugitives must be killed, but she is immediately corrected — in war, everyone can be killed. Catherine goes below to fasten up the doors, and Louka shows Raina how to fasten the shutters if there is any shooting and then leaves to help bolt the rest of the house.

Left alone, Raina picks up her fiancé's picture, raises it above her head like a priestess worshipping it, and calls the portrait her "soul's hero." As she prepares for bed, shots are suddenly heard in the distance and then some more shots are heard; these are much nearer. She scrambles out of bed, rapidly blows out the candles, and immediately darts back into bed. She hears more shots, and then she hears someone tampering with the shutters from outside; there is a glimmer of light, and then someone strikes a match and warns her not to try to run away. Raina is told to light a candle, and after she does so, she is able to see a man in a Serbian's officer's uniform; he is completely bespattered with mud and blood, and he warns her that if it becomes necessary, he will shoot her because if he is caught, he will be killed — and he has no intention of dying. When they hear a disturbance outside the house, the Serbian officer quickly snatches Raina's cloak that she is about to use to cover herself; ungentlemanlike, he keeps it, knowing that she won't want a group of army officers searching her room when she is clad in only a sheer nightgown. There is more noise downstairs, and Louka is heard at the door; she says that there is a search party downstairs, and if Raina doesn't let them in, they will break down the door. Suddenly the Serbian officer loses his courage; he tells Raina that he is done for. He will shoot the first man who breaks in and "it will not be nice." Raina impulsively changes her mind and decides to hide him behind the curtains. Catherine, Louka, and a Russian officer dressed in a Bulgarian uniform enter, and after inspecting the balcony and hearing Raina testify that no one came in, they leave. (Louka, however, notices something behind the curtain and sees the revolver lying on the ottoman; she says nothing, however.) Raina slams and locks the door after them.

When the Serbian officer emerges and offers his thanks, he explains that he is not really a Serbian officer; he is a professional soldier, a Swiss citizen, in fact, and he now wishes that he had joined with the Bulgarians rather than with the Serbs. He asks to stay a minute to collect his thoughts, and Raina agrees, deciding to sit down also, but as she sits on the ottoman, she sits on the man's pistol, and she lets out a scream. Raina now realizes what it was that Louka was staring at, and she is surprised that the others didn't notice it. She is frightened of the gun, but the soldier tells her there is no need to be — it is not loaded: he keeps chocolates rather than bullets in his cartridge holder. In fact, he wishes he had some chocolates now. In mock scorn, Raina goes to the chest of drawers and returns with a half-eaten box of chocolates, the remainder of which he immediately devours. Raina is shocked to hear him say that only foolish young soldiers or else stupid ones like those in charge of the recent attack on the Serbs at Slivnitza carry bullets; wise and experienced soldiers carry chocolates. Then he offends her further (and still innocently, of course) by explaining how unprofessional the cavalry charge against the Serbians was, and if there had not been a stupid mistake on the part of the Serbs, the Bulgarians would have been massacred. Then the soldier says that the Bulgarian "hero," the leader of the troops, acted "like an operatic tenor . . . shouting his war-cry and charging like Don Quixote at the windmills." He says that the fellow was the laughingstock of everyone present: "Of all the fools let loose on a field of battle, that man must be the very maddest." Only a stupid mistake carried the day for him. Raina then takes the portrait of Sergius and shows it to the officer, who agrees that this was indeed the person who was "charging the windmills and imagining he was doing the finest thing."

Angry at the derogatory remarks about her "heroic" betrothed, Raina orders the stranger to leave. But he balks; he says that whereas he could climb up the balcony, he simply can't face the descent. He is so exhausted that he tells her to simply give out the alarm — he's beaten. Raina tries to spark some courage in him, but realizes that he is more prudent than daring. Raina is at a loss; she simply doesn't know what to do with him: he can't be caught in the Petkoff house, the richest house in Bulgaria and the only one to have a library and an inside staircase. She then remembers an opera by Verdi, Ernani, in which a fugitive throws himself on the mercy of some aristocratic people; she thinks that perhaps this might be the solution because, according to the opera, the hospitality of a nobleman is sacred and inviolable. In response, the soldier tells her that his father is a hospitable man himself; in fact, he owns six hotels in Switzerland. Then falling asleep, he kisses her hand. Raina panics. She insists that he stay awake until she can fetch her mother, but before she can get out of the room, he has crawled into her bed and is asleep in such a trance that when Raina returns with her mother, they cannot shake him awake. His fatigue is so great that Raina tells her mother: "The poor darling is worn out. Let him sleep." This comment arouses Catherine's stern reproach, and the curtain falls on the first act.

For class XI 2015 DAY 1 : ARMS & THE MAN : PLOT SUMMARY

Dear students,

Welcome to your study of "Arms and The man" a drama by George Bernard Shaw. It's a very entertaining play - and you can check with the class 12s if they find it so ! I hope you do !!!

Please have a separate note book for "Arms and The man" than you have for the Poems and Sort Stories.

It is important that you know the the plot - the way the story unfolds in the play - i.e. the sequence of events.

You need to know this accurately.

Learn the spellings of the names of the characters.

Please write the following Play Summary in your note books - writing is a means to learning - please think about what you are writing as you write !

I hope you like the story and the play !

Character List

Captain Bluntschli A professional soldier from Switzerland who is serving in the Serbian army. He is thirty-four years old, and he is totally realistic about the stupidity of war.

Raina Petkoff The romantic idealist of twenty-three who views war in terms of noble and heroic deeds.

Sergius Saranoff The extremely handsome young Bulgarian officer who leads an attack against the Serbs which was an overwhelming success.

Major Petkoff The inept, fifty-year-old father of Raina; he is wealthy by Bulgarian standards, but he is also unread, uncouth, and incompetent.

Catherine Petkoff Raina's mother; she looks like and acts like a peasant, but she wears fashionable dressing gowns and tea gowns all the time in an effort to appear to be a Viennese lady.

Louka The Petkoffs' female servant; she is young and physically attractive, and she uses her appearance for ambitious preferment.

Nicola A realistic, middle-aged servant who is very practical.

Play Summary

The play begins in the bedroom of Raina Petkoff in a Bulgarian town in 1885, during the Serbo-Bulgarian War. As the play opens, Catherine Petkoff and her daughter, Raina, have just heard that the Bulgarians have scored a tremendous victory in a cavalry charge led by Raina's fiancé, Major Sergius Saranoff, who is in the same regiment as Raina's father, Major Paul Petkoff. Raina is so impressed with the noble deeds of her fiancé that she fears that she might never be able to live up to his nobility. At this very moment, the maid, Louka, rushes in with the news that the Serbs are being chased through the streets and that it is necessary to lock up the house and all of the windows. Raina promises to do so later, and Louka leaves. But as Raina is reading in bed, shots are heard, there is a noise at the balcony window, and a bedraggled enemy soldier with a gun appears and threatens to kill her if she makes a sound. After the soldier and Raina exchange some words, Louka calls from outside the door; she says that several soldiers want to search the house and investigate a report that an enemy Serbian soldier was seen climbing her balcony. When Raina hears the news, she turns to the soldier. He says that he is prepared to die, but he certainly plans to kill a few Bulgarian soldiers in her bedroom before he dies. Thus, Raina impetuously decides to hide him. The soldiers investigate, find no one, and leave. Raina then calls the man out from hiding; she nervously and absentmindedly sits on his gun, but she learns that it is not loaded; the soldier carries no cartridges. He explains that instead of carrying bullets, he always carries chocolates into battle. Furthermore, he is not an enemy; he is a Swiss, a professional soldier hired by Serbia. Raina gives him the last of her chocolate creams, which he devours, maintaining that she has indeed saved his life. Now that the Bulgarian soldiers are gone, Raina wants the "chocolate cream soldier" (as she calls him) to climb back down the drainpipe, but he refuses to; whereas he could climb up, he hasn't the strength to climb down. When Raina goes after her mother to help, the "chocolate cream soldier" crawls into Raina's bed and falls instantly asleep. In fact, when they re-enter, he is sleeping so soundly that they cannot awaken him.

Act II begins four months later in the garden of Major Petkoff's house. The middle-aged servant Nicola is lecturing Louka on the importance of having proper respect for the upper class, but Louka has too independent a soul to ever be a "proper" servant. She has higher plans for herself than to marry someone like Nicola, who, she insists, has the "soul of a servant." Major Petkoff arrives home from the war, and his wife Catherine greets him with two bits of information: she suggests that Bulgaria should have annexed Serbia, and she tells him that she has had an electric bell installed in the library. Major Sergius Saranoff, Raina's fiancé and leader of the successful cavalry charge, arrives, and in the course of discussing the end of the war, he and Major Petkoff recount the now-famous story of how a Swiss soldier escaped by climbing up a balcony and into the bedroom of a noble Bulgarian woman. The women are shocked that such a crude story would be told in front of them. When the Petkoffs go into the house, Raina and Sergius discuss their love for one another, and Raina romantically declares that the two of them have found a "higher love."

When Raina goes to get her hat so that they can go for a walk, Louka comes in, and Sergius asks if she knows how tiring it is to be involved with a "higher love." Then he immediately tries to embrace the attractive maid. Since he is being so blatantly familiar, Louka declares that Miss Raina is no better than she; Raina, she says, has been having an affair while Sergius was away, but she refuses to tell Sergius who Raina's lover is, even though Sergius accidently bruises Louka's arm while trying to wrest a confession from her. When he apologizes, Louka insists that he kiss her arm, but Sergius refuses and, at that moment, Raina re-enters. Sergius is then called away, and Catherine enters. The two ladies discuss how incensed they both are that Sergius related the tale about the escaping soldier. Raina, however, doesn't care if Sergius hears about it; she is tired of his stiff propriety. At that moment, Louka announces the presence of a Swiss officer with a carpetbag, calling for the lady of the house. His name is Captain Bluntschli. Instantly, they both know he is the "chocolate cream soldier" who is returning the Major's old coat that they disguised him in. As they make rapid, desperate plans to send him away, Major Petkoff hails Bluntschli and greets him warmly as the person who aided them in the final negotiations of the war; the old Major insists that Bluntschli must their houseguest until he has to return to Switzerland.

Act III begins shortly after lunch and takes place in the library. Captain Bluntschli is attending to a large amount of confusing paperwork in a very efficient manner, while Sergius and Major Petkoff merely observe. Major Petkoff complains about a favourite old coat being lost, but at that moment Catherine rings the new library bell, sends Nicola after the coat, and astounds the Major by thus retrieving his lost coat. When Raina and Bluntschli are left alone, she compliments him on his looking so handsome now that he is washed and brushed. Then she assumes a high and noble tone and chides him concerning certain stories which he has told and the fact that she has had to lie for him. Bluntschli laughs at her "noble attitude" and says that he is pleased with her demeanor. Raina is amused; she says that Bluntschli is the first person to ever see through her pretensions, but she is perplexed that he didn't feel into the pockets of the old coat which she lent him; she had placed a photo of herself there with the inscription "To my Chocolate Cream Soldier." At this moment, a telegram is brought to Bluntschli relating the death of his father and the necessity of his coming home immediately to make arrangements for the six hotels that he has inherited. As Raina and Bluntschli leave the room, Louka comes in wearing her sleeve in a ridiculous fashion so that her bruise will be obvious. Sergius enters and asks if he can cure it now with a kiss. Louka questions his true bravery; she wonders if he has the courage to marry a woman who is socially beneath him, even if he loved the woman. Sergius asserts that he would, but he is now engaged to a girl so noble that all such talk is absurd. Louka then lets him know that Bluntschli is his rival and that Raina will marry the Swiss soldier. Sergius is incensed. He sees Bluntschli and immediately challenges him to a duel; then he retracts when Raina comes in and accuses him of making love to Louka merely to spy on her and Bluntschli. As they are arguing, Bluntschli asks for Louka, who has been eavesdropping at the door. She is brought in, Sergius apologizes to her, kisses her hand, and thus they become engaged. Bluntschli asks permission to become a suitor for Raina's hand, and when he lists all of the possessions which he has (200 horses, 9600 pairs of sheets, ten thousand knives and forks, etc.), permission for the marriage is granted, and Bluntschli says that he will return in two weeks to marry Raina. Succumbing with pleasure, Raina gives a loving smile to her "chocolate cream soldier."

CLASS 12 ARMS & THE MAN 1ST CARD TEST

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.

·         His “moodiness” – his “wincings” – yet again, since we are yet to witness his behavior we cannot vouch for the truth of this description, but we shall observe his behavior for the signs of these characteristics.

WORKBOOK ACT 2 SC 2 PGS 123 TO 126

5(i) : Catherine is talking about the surprise of her husband Paul Petkoff returning from the war and arriving so early in the morning (Raina and Catherine had just finished their breakfast, which they had probably had in a very relaxed manner in the garden outside their house), not in the least expecting Paul's return.
   (ii):This tells us that Catherine is a caring person, she is a good and conscientious mother and homemaker.
    (iii): major Petkoff is talking about the recent war the Bulgarians had fought against the Serbs, beating them at a great battle at Slivinitza. The battle was fought between the Bulgarians with the Russians as their commanders against the Serbians with the Austrians as their officers. Major Paul Petkoff was on the side of the Bulgarians.
    (iv) : The treaty major Petkoff is talking about is the one which was signed after the Bulgarian army had defeated the Serbs. The treaty had been signed at Bucharest. It had been signed three days before. The result of the treaty, according to Paul Petkoff, was that a decree had been issued the previous day, demoblising the Bulgarian army. According to Paul the treaty signed was an honourable ones and that while it declared peace with Serbia it did not mention friendly relations.
    (v) Instead of signing the peace treaty, Catherine wanted Serbia to be annexed to Bulgaria and Prince Alexandra of Bulgaria declared the Emperor of the Balkans. This tells us that Catherine is a strong and aggressive character. She is a proud and patriotic Bulgarian who harbours animosity for Serbia.

6(i) : Catherine wanted the Bulgarians after their victory over the Serbs at the great battle at Slivinitza to annex Serbia. Catherine wants this to be done as to her that would be the natural step to be taken to defeating a neighbouring country in a battle.This shows Catherine to be a proud and patriotic Bulgarian. It also reveals her strong a combative character.
   (ii) : Major Petkoff doesn't doubt that if Catherine were part of the treaty negotiations she would have been hawkish in her stance and would have demanded the annexation of Serbia and declaration of Prince Alexander as the Emperor of the Balkans.
   (iii): The reasons Major Petkoff gives are that firstly the Austrians, who were the allies of the Serbs, would not have given into that demand and the war would have continued until the Bulgarians could defeat the Austrian Empire. Being part of that war would have kept Paul too long away from Catherine (his beloved wife) and he says he would have missed her too much.
            I believe that Paul's reason was reasonable and made practical sense as a victory in one battle does not necessarily mean the defeat of the whole of a country. The second part of Paul's response is to bring what would surely have continued as a heated discussion to and end.
     (iv) : The war the Bulgarians have fought against the Serbians, a war in which Paul Petkoff participated as a major, kept him away for that length of time from Catherine.
     (v) : The extract tells us that the husband and wife, Paul and Catherine have becoming sparring partners in their relationship. Paul knows how to charm Catherine with his turn of words. Catherine is forthright and openly puts forward her ideas, even though they may be contrary to her husband's.

for class 12 ENG LIT AATM ACT 2 SC 1

Work Book

Pg 116 (1)

         i.           i.  Nicola warns Louka about being defiant and disrespectful in her attitude to the family who employs her, especially to Catherine, as she is the mistress of the house and thus responsible for the servants in the home.

       ii.            ii Louka is defiant. George Bernard Shaw has noted in his introduction to Louka that she “is so defiant that her servility to Raina is almost insolent” and that even though she is afraid of Catherine “even with her goes as far as she dares”.

      iii.          iii  The mistress whom Louka is talking about in the extract is Catherine Petkoff. Catherine is the mistress of the Petkoff home. Nicola says that Catherine is “so grand” – meaning very large hearted or positively inclined to persons. However, he notes that Catherine is also a very decisive person who will not tolerate disrespect and will be decisive in her actions.

     iv.           iv  According to Nicola, if the mistress would come to know that Louka is defying her she would be immediately dismissed from service and that no one would ever believe her after she was dismissed or give her a job.

       v.          v  Louka says that she will continue to defy her mistress because she has a strong sense of self-pride. Louka feels that being a subdued servant diminishes her self worth.

It tells us that she has an assertive character. However, it also tells her that she is rash and experienced and realize how such behavior will work to her disadvantage.

     vi.            vi Nicola is an experienced and practical person. Being middle-aged he has reasonable but not idealistic expectations for himself and his future. Louka on the other hand is “young” and idealistic and is ambitious for her future. She seems like someone who will aggressively follow her dreams for her self-actualisation.

Pg 118 (2)

         i.            i Nicola is talking about the Petkoff family – Catherine, Paul and Raina in particular and maybe even Sergius, since it is expected that he will soon be married to Louka. He would also mean anyone who is acquainted with the family.

Louka is dependent on the goodwill of the family as he does not plan to remain in service with the family for long. He hopes, in the future, to set up a shop in Sofia. He hopes that ‘the family’ would look favourably on his venture and that they would be important customers and that they would also recommend his shop to their acquaintances.

       ii.           ii  Nicola hopes to get the money for starting his shop from , I presume, his savings from having worked with the Petkoff’s for the last ten years. When he says “their custom will be half my capital”, I think he means that their coming to his shop and buying goods would make up have his business earnings.

He intends to work conscientiously for the time in the Petkoff service – this would help him get the money he needs for the shop and be an investment for a future successful business.

      iii.          iii  Louka tells Nicola that he does not have ‘spirit’ because she does not hear in his words or see in his behaviour any ambition to be on par with the highest in society. She sees in Nicola someone who will always consider the Petkoffs and people of that stratum in society always superior to himself. He does not seem to realize that he is equal to any and every person.

Later, Louka tells Nicola that he would “never put the soul of a servant” into her.

     iv.        iv    When Louka tells Nicola that she’s “young”, he emphasizes that she is inexperienced and idealistic and not aware of how to achieve her objectives in the real world.

       v.         v   The extract tells us that Nicola has a “clear and keen intelligence” and that he is “an accurate calculator who has no illusions”. Nicola also does not want to remain a servant all his life, but he is realistic and experienced enough to know that he has to work to move up in society. He also has shrewd commercial sense, knowing how important it is to cultivate and build up a clientele.

Louka shows herself to be bold and aggressive. She shows a fighting spirit of one who will not allow others to dominate her or foil her attempts to claim her rightful place in society.

Pg 119 (3)

         i.         i   Louka believes that Nicola likes her and would like to be married to her because she is young. However, later on the play we learn that Nicola had brought Louka to the Petkoff home and secured a job for her. He had probably felt that Louka coming from a similar background that he had, she would be a suitable match for him and had tried to help her and her family as best he could.

       ii.        ii    One of the family secrets that Louka knows is that Raina and Catherine had not handed over an enemy soldier to the Bulgarian soldiers and their Russian officers but had disguised the man in Paul Petkoff’s coat and sent him away. In that way Raina and Catherine had not been patriotic and would probably suffer the wrath of Paul Petkoff and Sergius who had fought in the Bulgarian army against the Serbs.

      iii.       iii     Louka thinks that the family will not dare to offend her because she knows the secret that Catherine and Raina had not handed over a runaway Serb soldier to the Bulgarian army but had set him free in a disguise – public knowledge of the incident, she believes would surely disgrace the family. She feels that the family would not dare face the disgrace and would therefore not to want to offend Louka.

     iv.          iv  According to Louka, the Petkoff family, realizing that they were one of the most prominent families in the country and enjoying the respect of the people of Bulgaria, would realize that none would believe a servant who would be expelled from their service against their word. Thus Nicola tells Louka that they would immediately dismiss Louka from their service for dishonesty.

       v.        v    Nicola warns Louka that if she behaved inappropriately she would be dismissed from service in the Petkoff family. She would not be able to get another position like it and her father who was a poor farmer would not be able to meet his expenses on his farm and would lose his means of livelihood.

     vi.       vi     This extract underlines the fact that the different strata of society are really closely knit groups. It tells us that in each stratum the members are more supportive of their own and suspicious of those below their strata trying to weaken on enter into their strata. It also reveals how challenging it is for those from the lower starts of society to rise above their levels.

Pg.121 (4)

         i.        i    The secret that Nicola is talking about is that Raina had hid a fugitive Serb soldier in her room and not reveleaded his presence to the Bulgarian soldiers and Russian officer who had come to follow a lead that a Serb soldier was seen climbing into the house. The Serb soldier had been disguised in the coat of the master of the house – Paul Petkoff – and had been allowed to escape.

       ii.     ii       Nicola advises Nicola to be respectful to Catherine and Raina even though she may not agree with their action. He advises Louka to behave in such a manner that Catherine will be sure that louka will never disclose any of the happenings of the house to others and not even to Paul Petkoff and possibly Sergius Saranoff, who being part of the family may still be offended on hearing of such an action by the ladies of the house.

Louka does not listen to Nicola and reveals the ‘secret’ to Sergius.

      iii.   iii         Louka tells Nicola that he has the “soul of a servant” because Nicola will forever be subservient to the Petkoffs and those of their social strata even when he is not in their service (when he has set up his own shop in Sofia) as he would still be currying their favour in order to secure their custom and those of their associates.

Louka is only partially right in her assessment of Nicola. She is right in the sense that Nicola is willing to be deferent to Petkoff’s and others in their strata of society always. However, Nicola does not want to be a servant all his life and has reasonable ambition which will make him financially independent and not of the servant class any more. He merely puts on a subservient attitude in order to further his own ends.

     iv.      iv      According to Nicola the “secret of success in service” doing what it takes to ensure that your employers have complete faith and trust in you and thus to be guaranteed job security and favour. Thus he will be a totally faithful servant who will be trusted to keep family matters to himself and to preserve the reputation of the family he serves. He will also be suitably subservient and respectful in behavior.

       v.       v     Ultimately it is Louka who makes the “most out of them in the play”. It is Louka who reveals to Sergius who Bluntschli is. Louka is defiant to Raina and does it what it takes to win the hand of the man she loves – Sergius. Finally Raina does marry Sergius and not Nicola.Luka uses the family to rise in station in society. Nicola remains a servant in the house.