Module1BernardShaw’sPygmalionPartTwo:TeachingResources第二部分:教学资源Section2:Backgroundinformation1.SomethingabouttheauthorBernardShawGeorgeBernardShaw(1856-1950)-BiographyIrishdramatist,literarycritic,asocialistspokesman,andaleadingfigureinthe20thcenturytheater.Shawwasafreethinker,defenderofwomen'srights,andadvocateofequalityofincome.In1925hewasawardedtheNobelPrizeforLiterature.Shawacceptedthehonorbutrefusedthemoney.GeorgeBernardShawwasborninDublin,wherehegrewupinsomethingclosetogenteelpoverty."IamatypicalIrishman;myfamilycamefromYorkshire,"Shawoncesaid.Hisfather,GeorgeCarrShaw,wasinthewholesalegraintrade.LucindaElisabeth(Gurly)Shaw,hismother,wasthedaughterofanimpoverishedlandowner.Shewas16-yearsyoungerthanherhusband.GeorgeCarrwasadrunkard-hisexamplepromptedhissontobecomeateetotaler.Whenhediedin1885,hischildrenandwifedidnotattendhisfuneral.YoungShawandhistwosisterswerebroughtupmostlybyservants.Amanofmanycauses,Shawsupportedabolitionofprivateproperty,radicalchangeinthevotingsystem,campaignedforthesimplificationofspelling,andthereformoftheEnglishalphabet.Asapublicspeaker,Shawgainedthestatusofoneofthemostsought-afteroratorsinEngland.In1895ShawbecameadramacriticfortheSaturdayReview.ArticleswrittenforthepaperwerelatercollectedinOURTHEATRESINTHENINETIES(1932).Music,art,anddramacriticismShawwroteforDramaticReview(1885-86),OurCorner(1885-86),ThePallMallGazette(1885-88),TheWorld(1886-94),andTheStar(1888-90)as'CornobiBasetto'.Hismusiccriticismwerecollected用心爱心专心116号编辑inSHAW'SMUSIC(1981).Afterlacingashoetootightly,anoperationwasperformedonhisfootfornecrosis;Shawwasunabletoputhisfootonthegroundforeighteenmonths.DuringthisperiodhewroteCAESARANDCLEOPATRA(1901)andTHEPERFECTWAGNERITE(1898).TheNorwegianplaywrightHenrikIbsenhadagreatinfluenceonShaw'sthinking.ForasummermeetingoftheFabianSocietyin1890,hewroteTHEQUINTESSENCEOFIBSENISM(1891),inwhichheconsideredIbsenapioneer,"whodeclaresthatitisrighttodosomethinghithertoregardedasinfamous."Shaw'searlyplays,WIDOWER'SHOUSES(1892),whichcriticizedslumlandlords,aswellasseveralsubsequentones,werenotwellreceived.His'unpleasantplays',ideologicalattacksontheevilsofcapitalismandexplorationsofmoralandsocialproblems,werefollowedwithmoreentertainingbutasprincipledproductions."Toaprofessionalcritic(Ihavebeenonemyself)theatre-goingisthecurseofAdam.Theplayistheevilheispaidtoendureinthesweatofhisbrow;andthesooneritisover,thebetter."(from'Preface'toSaintJoan).CANDIDAwasacomedyaboutthewifeofaclergyman,andwhathappenswhenaweak,youngpoetwantstorescueherfromherdullfamilylife.ButitwasnotuntilJOHNBULL'SOTHERISLAND(1904)thatShawgainedinEnglandawiderpopularitywithhisownplays.IntheUnitesStatesandGermanyShaw'snamewasalreadywell-known.Between1904and1907TheRoyalCourtTheatrestagedseveralofhisplays,includingCandida.InhisplaysShawcombinedcontemporarymoralproblemswithironictoneandparadoxes,"Shavian"wit,whichhaveproducedsuchphrasesas"Hewhocan,does.Hewhocannot,teaches","EnglandandAmericaaretwocountriesdividedbyacommonlanguage","Christianitymightbeagoodthingifanyoneevertriedit",and"IneverresisttemptationbecauseIhavefoundthatthingsarebadformedonottemptme."Discussionandintellectualacrobaticsarethebasisofhisdrama,andbeforetheemergenceofthesoundfilm,hisplayswerenearlyimpossibletoadaptintoscreen.Duringhislongcareer,Shawwroteover50plays.Hecontinuedtowritethemeveninhis90s....
