The Act II of the play shows that Shaw considers romantic or sentimental love as irrational. What are your views on the matter?

The Act tells that Shaw considers sentimental or romantic love as irrational. It is short-lived and is only for escapists. This is the reason why most of his plays are anti-romantic. He uses both Morell and Candida to shatter the illusions of sentimental love. The romantic love is demonstrated by the young poet, Marchbanks. Candida represents real love in its true sense.

Initially, Marchbanks has been portrayed as an immature, young boy of eighteen years of age. He had fallen in love with Candida who is much older to him and is already married. When Morell came to know about the fact, he tried Marchbanks to see and understand the reality and showcases the non-viability of latters’ love.

Marchbanks is horrified at the thought of Candida taking care of household chores like peeling onions, scrubbing, filling oil in lamps, etc. He is further shocked to learn that Morell had used her favourite scrubbing brush for polishing with graphite. All these points show that his love for Candida is purely romantic and not realistic. Even when Candida tried to pacify him by demanding a new elegant scrubbing brush from Marchbanks, he avoided the matter and started talking about taking her to an illusionary world of comfort. Morell mocks his world as fit for lazy, selfish and useless people. In the end Candida chooses Morell over Marchbanks because she understands that Marchbanks’love for her is only romantic whereas Morell’s love for her is realistic. Marchbanks can never provide her security, comfort and respect in the society. However, she gives a different reason for her choice.

In this way, Shaw has shown his displeasure for romantic love through the characters of Candida and Morell and warns the viewers that sometimes, the turbulence caused by it may disrupt the foundations of a happy married life.

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