Arms and the Man 4

Some critics regard ‘Arms and the Man’ as a farce. But it would be a mistake to regard the play as a farce. Shaw has an earnest purpose behind the play. He is no provider of cheap mirth but a philosopher, who plans all the laughs with the unerring instinct of a true artist. The play not only makes us laugh, but also makes us think. Nevertheless, the play sometimes verges on the farce. The knightly chivalry and quixotic manners of Sergius in love-making and warfare, the extravagance of Raina’s idealism, the silliness of Major Petkoff, are exaggerated to ridiculous excess. There are these farcical elements. But the plot develops through the clash of ideas and animated discussions.