Discuss Candida as a problem Play

Discuss Candida as a problem Play 

Candida is the main character as well as the title of a play by George Bernard Shaw . in the late 19th century, realism gained a dominant place in literature. the genre of the problem play, which fits squarely within realism, is most often associated with Norway's Henrik Ibsen. shaw himself actually compared candida to Ibsen's famous A DOLL'S HOUSE. the problem play is the drama of ideas, presenting themes about contemporary social issues, usually expressed through passionate polemics in the character's dialogue. women's right and labour issues, which are among their typical themes, both figure prominently in candida. notably, near the end, she is said to " belong to herself" after two men fight over her and she remarks that they seem to think it " quite settled that I must belong to one or the other ."

Ostensibly a conventional, self-sacrificing wife and mother, candida feels trapped in her marriage to a reverend motel. her longing for more takes the form of an attachment to the young poet Marchbanks. this fondness on her part is more maternal than romantic, while the poet's view of her is imbued with romantic idealism. he wants to rescue her essential free spirit from being stifled by her husband's preaching, calling his serious "mere rhetoric" candida believes, however, and tells her husband that in future the right woman's love will instead reuse the poet. she chooses to remain with her husband because he is weaker and needs her more.

The worker versus owner issues is presented in several arguments that express the conflict between her father, burgess, a factory owner, and rev. Morell, a socialist committed to solving worker's problems. a less-than-ideal solution occurs when Burges fires the female workers instead of giving them raise that Morell recommended. shaw adds irony to the mix as Morell pays low wages to his own society.

Candida is the drama that developed In the 19th century to deal with controversial social issues and stimulated through the discussion. candida's purpose is not to expose social ills; it deals more with " controversial social issue " such as the reality of the marriage in the 19th century. shaw has been credited with creating the ideas, in which plays explore such issues and sexism, sexual equality, socioeconomic division, the effect of poverty, and philosophical and religious theories.

Whereas many of his plays deal with social issues and rebellion, this play deals mostly with the old-fashioned institution of marriage. Morell is married to Candida; Marchbanks is a young, unrealistic poet who idealizes Candida and admits to Morell that he loves Candida. The idea here is: what is love? It ends up being about marriage, not the romantic ideas of Marchbanks. Whereas Marchbanks (eighteen years old) is part of the generation of young people who do not look at the world realistically—but with the "rose-coloured glasses" of idealism—Morell is grounded ("mentally and emotionally stable: admirably sensible, realistic, & unpretentious") as a clergyman, husband and father. Marchbanks is appalled that Candida is reduced to menial tasks within the household (like peeling onions), but Candida is much more sensible than Marchbanks; she easily assumes her role as wife, mother and homemaker. She may feel a friendly affection for the young man, but nothing else.

On the other hand, Morell, having listened to Marchbank's poetic spoutings, wonders if he is not, indeed, too "mundane" for his wife.However, Candida is presented as a strong woman who is happy to support her husband and do what she can to see his success.

Marchbanks demands that Candida decide—she chooses "the weaker ones,"—her husband. He needs her support and faith in him. He is not presented as a weak figure, but as a man who succeeds because of his wife's dedication.The two have a solid give-and-take relationship that allows them to be happy with their marriage and love for each other. 

At the end of the Victorian era, society was deeply questioning the role and scope of women's rights, what women were capable of, and how much agency they should and could have in making their own life choices. Candida stands at the centre of two poles, her husband and her lover, and conscientiously chooses one not out of fear or vanity, but her own moral compass. Even though she chooses the more conventional life, it is unconventional in that she is a woman choosing her own path in life and not merely one set out for her.