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Different concepts of war
War was seen as glorious opportunity for a man to prove his
courage
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The romantic tradition of war
ignores its realities ‐ the suffering, the insanity, and the deprivations
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He satires
romantic notions that glorify the horrific business that war truly is
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They see war
as a romantic endeavour
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Catherine’s eloquent description of Sergius’ accomplishment at
Slivnitza resembles the idiom of romantic tales of war, “Our gallant
splendid Bulgarians with their swords and eyes flashing, thundering
down like an avalanche and scattering the wretched Serbs and their
dandified Austrian officers like chaff
...
Catherine’s unrealistic conception of a heroic victory
involves the utter destruction of the enemy
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However, defeat of the enemy army in war, is not as glorious for
them as it is for the victors
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In the first Act, as he seeks refuge in Raina’s bed
chamber, he is “bespattered with mud and blood and snow”,

exhausted, starving, and being pursued
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He tells her of the Serbian
soldiers, who were left without ammunition or bayonets, being cut
into bits by the Bulgarian cavalry
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Bluntschli speaks from a firsthand
knowledge of a veteran who has seen “fifteen years of barracks and
battles” ‐ his version of the nature of war is hence more reliable that
that of Catherine
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Through the character of Bluntschli, Shaw essays a painfully
realistic reappraisal of war
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He reveals that Sergius’ act was
“unprofessional”, and suicidal ‐ “He and his regiment simply
committed suicide; only the pistol missed fire: that’s all”
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Sergius led his men foolishly into danger
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As opposed to
Sergius’ impulsive and foolhardy action, Bluntschli plans every
move coolly and judiciously
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Bluntschli represents a matter of fact down to earth attitude to
war
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He is a judicious and professional soldier, regarding war for what it
is ‐ a profession, “I am a professional soldier
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You’re only an
amateur : you think fighting’s an amusement”
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He exposes that “Nine
out of ten soldiers are born fools”, implying that war is a foolish
attempt
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” Bluntschli
tells Raina what a cavalry charge is really like, “It’s like slinging a
handful of peas against a window pane”, an image that can hardy be
said to be romantic or glorious
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In the play, Sergius too gets a glimpse of the reality of war, in the
Serbo‐Bulgarian War : “Soldiering is he coward’s art of attacking
mercilessly when you are strong and keeping out of harm’s way
when you are weak
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Get your enemy at a disadvantage, and never, on any account, fight
him on equal terms
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But
it was not until the end of the First World War that people realized
how perceptive his views were
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Shaw does not simply dismiss
heroism‐ he redefines them in the light of realism
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Through the course of the play, Shaw brings his characters and
his audience to a better understanding of these values
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Shaw
shows us the madness of glorifying something so brutal as war, the
foolishness of basing one’s affections on idealistic notions of love
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I
honestly feel compelled to consider his pragmatic idea of war

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