Heartbreak House

Heartbreak House was written by George Bernard Shaw in 1919. According to A. C. Ward, the work argues that "cultured, leisured Europe" was drifting toward destruction, and that "Those in a position to guide Europe to safety failed to learn their proper business of political navigation". (p. 164)

Major Themes

Society

The house could arguably be a metaphorical reference to a ship which must be guided capably, not only by its crew, but also its passengers. Shaw makes use of the contrast between Mazzini Dunn and his employer 'Boss' Mangan to illustrate society in England and Continental Europe followed the lead of those not capable of properly leading. (See the Platonic concept of Ship of state)

Character traits

The author contrasts Mazzini with his employer, Alfred Mangan, who is soon to marry Mazzini's daughter. Mangan represents the "so-called realists who know that money is power, power that enables them to turn into profit for themselves the thoughts and ideas of the idealist". (p. 156)

Dunn is allowed opportunity to succeed in business by Mangan, who later bankrupts Dunn and eventually takes over the business once it becomes robust. The ideas and enthusiasm start with Dunn, but he lacks the knowledge and ability to apply them toward improving the business.

Mazzini appears kind hearted and munificent, but ineffectual. Mangan behaves in an egotistical and unscrupulous, yet influential manner. Shaw points out to us that "modern civilization tends to make well-meaning, generous, and scrupulous people futile, and mean-spirited; self-seeking, money worshipping people powerful". (p. 156)

Modern civilization

Shaw indicates that the latter are in control and sailing towards the rocks as a result of their own folly, whereas the former should be taking the helm, but do not have the aptitude to do so. Mazzini highlights this inability in a conversation with Captain Shotover:

Mazzini: I often feel that there is a great deal to be said for the theory of an overruling providence, after all.
Captain Shotover: Every drunken skipper trusts to providence. But one of the ways of providence with drunken skippers is to run them on the rocks. (p. 140)

Fate

Mazzini's belief in fate ruling his life reinforces his feeble ability to control his situation and according to the captain dooms the ship to destruction unless competent navigation can be learned:

Navigation. Learn it and live; or leave it and be damned. (p. 141)

References

• Shaw, Bernard. Heartbreak House: A Fantasia in the Russian Manner on English Themes. With an Introduction and notes by Ward, A.C. London: Longmans Green and Co Ltd. 1961

The Plays of George Bernard Shaw

Passion Play • Un Petit Drame • Widowers' Houses • The Philanderer • Mrs. Warren's Profession • Arms and the Man • Candida • The Man of Destiny • You Never Can Tell • The Devil's Disciple • The Gadfly • Caesar and Cleopatra • Captain Brassbound's Conversion • The Admirable Bashville • Man and Superman • Don Juan in Hell • John Bull's Other Island • How He Lied to Her Husband • Major Barbara • Passion, Poison, and Petrifaction • The Doctor's Dilemma • The Interlude at the Playhouse • Getting Married • The Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet • Press Cuttings • Fascinating Foundling • The Glimpse of Reality • Misalliance • The Dark Lady of the Sonnets • Fanny's First Play • Androcles and the Lion • Overruled • Beauty's Duty • Pygmalion • Great Catherine • The Music Cure • O'Flaherty V.C. • The Inca of Perusalem • Augustus Does His Bit • Macbeth Skit • Annajanska, the Bolshevik Empress • Heartbreak House • Back to Methuselah • A Glimpse of the Domesticity of Franklin Barnabas • Jitta's Atonement • Saint Joan • The Apple Cart • Too True to Be Good • How These Doctors Love One Another! • Village Wooing • On the Rocks • The Simpleton of the Unexpected Isles • The Six of Calais • The Millionairess • Arthur and the Acetone • Cymbeline Refinished • Geneva • In Good King Charles' Golden Days • The British Party System • Buoyant Billions • Farfetched Fables • Shakes versus Shav • Why She Would Not

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