James Baquet

    British statesman Benjamin Disraeli said, “Critics are those who have failed in literature and art.” The Irish playwright and critic George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) disproves this statement handily. Shaw in fact started out as a critic of theater and music in London before turning to the writing of more than 60 plays, among them “Man and Superman,” “Major Barbara,” “Saint Joan,” and “Pygmalion.”

    Along the way he managed to win a Nobel Prize in Literature and, to his consternation, an Academy Award. (He is the only person to have one both of these prizes). He loved films but hated Hollywood. His film adaptation of “Pygmalion” was produced in London, as Shaw wanted nothing to do with the American film industry, but he couldn’t stop them from giving him the award now called “best adapted screenplay” in 1938. He considered it an insult to receive an award from Hollywood. After Shaw’s death, “Pygmalion” was adapted to become the musical “My Fair Lady”; the filmed version won eight Oscars in 1964, including best picture.

    Shaw was an office worker in his native Dublin until moving to London around age 20. He never again lived in Ireland. After trying various jobs — including writing some unpublished plays and novels — Shaw became a critic for several London newspapers, often using the byline “G. B. S.” Around the same time, two of his novels were published. He continued his efforts at creative writing, but it wasn’t until 1894 that he had his first success in the theater, with “Arms and the Man.” His reputation as a playwright was not confirmed, however, until after the turn of the 20th century.

    Meanwhile, in the early 1890s he had been active in politics, advocating for the “working man.” While this activity became less overt as his plays became more successful, the same impulse that went into his actions helped to shape the content of his plays. He defended liberal causes. In addition to helping the poor, Shaw promoted racial equality, a liberal view of religion, and, oddly, the reform of the spelling of the English language.

    Vocabulary:

    Which word above means:

    1. easily, with little effort

    2. obvious, easily noticed

    3. shows to be false

    4. idea that all people are equal, regardless of race

    5. speaking or writing in support of

    6. being the place someone is born

    7. dismay, alarm

    8. one who writes dramas

    9. author’s name on a news story

    10. changed for another use