Question

The play of Bernard Shaw that expounds the philosophy of life-force:

• A. The Apple Cart
• B. Pygmalion
• C. Back to Methuselah
• D. Arms and the Man

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Back to Methuselah

George Bernard Shaw and 'Back to Methuselah'

• George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist, and political activist. He was a leading figure in the Fabian Society and a proponent of socialist ideas.
• Shaw's work often explored social and political issues through witty dialogue and compelling characters.
• 'Back to Methuselah' is a cycle of five plays written by Shaw between 1918 and 1920. It is considered one of his most ambitious and philosophical works.

The Philosophy of the Life-Force

• The central theme of 'Back to Methuselah' is Shaw's concept of the Life-Force.
• The Life-Force, in Shaw's philosophy, is a vital, creative, and evolutionary impulse that drives all life towards higher forms of existence and consciousness.
• It is an unseen power that seeks to overcome the limitations of mortality and the inadequacies of the human condition.
• Shaw believed that humanity's current stage of evolution was inadequate to deal with the complexities of the modern world, and that a prolonged lifespan was necessary for humans to develop greater wisdom and understanding.
• This desire for extended life is a manifestation of the Life-Force seeking to achieve its evolutionary goals.

Key Elements and Characters in 'Back to Methuselah'

• The play spans a vast period of time, from the Garden of Eden to 31,920 AD.
• It features characters who seek to achieve longevity, such as the pythoness Lilith, who advocates for longer lives as a means of achieving this evolutionary goal.
• Other characters, like The Ancient Barbara and The Elderly Gentleman, represent the potential for humans to achieve extended lifespans through a conscious effort to embrace the Life-Force.
• The play suggests that the pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual development are crucial for humanity's progress, driven by the Life-Force.

Significance and Reception

• 'Back to Methuselah' is a challenging work that explores complex philosophical ideas through Shaw's characteristic wit and intellectual rigor.
• It is often seen as a summation of Shaw's lifelong engagement with ideas of evolution, religion, and social reform.
• The play's emphasis on the potential for human evolution and the concept of the Life-Force has made it a subject of significant critical analysis in literary and philosophical studies.