Six Talks on "The Life and Work of Bernard Shaw"

Radio Record, Volume V, Issue 18, 13 November 1931, Page 3

Six Talks on "The Life and Work of Bernard Shaw"

By the POS

Rev.

William A.

Constable

M-A:

F009 S00 20 0 SOO 0 PO ED 0S 0 EDD ED TD 0ST 0D STD O0 Synopsis No. 6.-‘St. Joan." "ST. JOAN" was first produced in 1923 and published in 1924 with a preface on the history of Joan of Arc, her character, the treatment of her in literature, and the general message of her life for to-day. In the play we have all the old brilliance and power combined with a mellowing influence that is at times distinctly poetic. The conflict of character and ideals between Joan and her opponents is splendidly maintained-in spite of the fact that Shaw has made his task more difficult by trying to be fair to the opponents of "The Maid." Bishop Cauchon is drawn as a sincere churchman, anxious above all for the welfare of the whole Church, just as the Earl of Warwick is a study of the finer type of Feudal nobility. In making these two condemn the incipient Protestantism and Nationalism of Joan, Shaw is taking a license. Buthe confesses to this in the preface; for "it is the business of the stage to make its figures more intelligibie to themselves than they would be in real life, for by no other means can they be made intelligible to the audience." In the chaplain, De Stogumber, there is a little of the old satire of our Hnglish foibles-which may be overdrawn; but his transformation after the execution is finely dramatic, and his final appearance in the Epilogue is kindly and sympathetic. Dominating the play is the splendidly drawn character of Joan-rising at critical moments to poetic heights in several great speeches (which will be illustrated from three of the scenes). Some critics have doubted the necessity of the "Epilogue." But it is needed for the message of the play, that, though we might not have burned Joan at the stake to-day, we are not yet ready to welcome the true saint. "O God, that madest this beautiful world, when will it be ready to receive Thy saints? How long, O Lord, how long?" Art is the communication of the artist’s experience to the reader. And with Shaw, the imaginative experience did not end with Joan’s martyrdom, . but included her treatment by posterity up to her canonisation as a "Saint" in 1920. Thus his own artistic sincerity demanded the addition of what he could only give in the Epilogue. ~ oo > () > (E> () ED ESD SEEDED nh HH San MF)