George Bernard Shaw

Man and Superman George Bernard Shaw

Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philosophy by Bernard Shaw

Man and Superman is a massive drama filled with light comedy and deep philosophy, based on Nietzsche's theory of the Abermensch or superman. Acts I, II, and IV play like a romantic comedy with a bite. Ann Whitefield relentlessly pursues dedicated bachelor Jack Tanner, not giving up until he agrees to marry her. Nobody likes Ann, least of all Tanner; she's a selfish bully. But, she is imbued with the Life Force, which makes her charmingly irresistible. By contrast, the third act of the play takes place in hell and the main characters take on the roles of Mozart's Don Giovanni. There, they engage in a long philosophical discussion about the eternal conflicts between men and women and heaven and hell. This third act provides a philosophical context within which to understand the other three acts, giving the comedy and romance of Acts I, II, and IV a deeper meaning. In execution, however, Act III is almost always removed. The third act has also been performed separately, as a single act titled Don Juan in Hell.