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A review by waytoomanybooks
Candida by George Bernard Shaw
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
What an odd, yet compelling, play! I enjoyed the weirdness of both the plot and the main characters of this “bottle episode” drama that centers on Marchbanks being absolutely convinced that his boss’ (Morell) wife (Candida) is secretly in love with him.
So, let’s meet our main castmembers:
Morell is delightful. I’d love to have him as a friend. He’s sweet, patient, and has a great sense of humor and ease about hin. Even when he is made to feel anxious, he handles everything well. Everyone is making his day so fucking weird, and he’s just doing his best to take it all in stride.
Marchbanks is an 1894 incel, and he sucks so bad. He can’t stop fucking up. He’s an absolute trainwreck. He’s so stupid and annoying.
Burgess (Candida’ father) sucks but in a way that isn’t interesting. He’s such a British stereotype. I kept picturing him in jodhpurs and a pith helmet or in a top hat, tails, and a monocle. Like a villain from a Joseph Conrad novel.
Candida is stuck between a rock and a hard place. She has so many conflicting societal expectations thrown on her by Marchbanks and her father, but not, surprisingly, by her husband. She’s clearly in love with her husband, and she has a good deal of agency, too! She also seems to take things in great stride, though in a way completely different from her husband. She’s kind of aloof and mocking, which I like, but her attitude doesn’t quite seem to gel with Morell in this play. But they seems to love each other regardless, and I find that very sweet!
They’re all great characters!
The line that hit me like a sharp slap to the face was:“To find [Morell] beginning to fear [Marchbanks] whom he does not respect afflicts him bitterly” (39) . God, I wanted to punch Marchbanks in the mouth!
The twist, however, being thateveryone is apparently in love with our leading couple is kind of absurd? But in a weird and fun way? This was a fun read.
So, let’s meet our main castmembers:
Morell is delightful. I’d love to have him as a friend. He’s sweet, patient, and has a great sense of humor and ease about hin. Even when he is made to feel anxious, he handles everything well. Everyone is making his day so fucking weird, and he’s just doing his best to take it all in stride.
Marchbanks is an 1894 incel, and he sucks so bad. He can’t stop fucking up. He’s an absolute trainwreck. He’s so stupid and annoying.
Burgess (Candida’ father) sucks but in a way that isn’t interesting. He’s such a British stereotype. I kept picturing him in jodhpurs and a pith helmet or in a top hat, tails, and a monocle. Like a villain from a Joseph Conrad novel.
Candida is stuck between a rock and a hard place. She has so many conflicting societal expectations thrown on her by Marchbanks and her father, but not, surprisingly, by her husband. She’s clearly in love with her husband, and she has a good deal of agency, too! She also seems to take things in great stride, though in a way completely different from her husband. She’s kind of aloof and mocking, which I like, but her attitude doesn’t quite seem to gel with Morell in this play. But they seems to love each other regardless, and I find that very sweet!
They’re all great characters!
The line that hit me like a sharp slap to the face was:
The twist, however, being that