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Overview
Synopsis
One of George Bernard Shaw’s lesser known works, Candida examines marriage and the relationship between husband and wife in the late Victorian era. It centers around Candida Morell, a beautiful and charming woman who is married to Reverend James Morell, a dedicated Christian socialist. The couple have taken in Eugene Marchbanks, a young, idealistic poet, who Morell found sleeping on the Embankment in London. Candida finds herself the subject of a tug-of-war between the two men as Marchbanks declares his passionate love for Morell’s wife. The crisis reaches its peak when Marchbanks challenges Morell to question Candida’s love for him and the true state of his marriage. Marchbanks believes that Candida deserves his eternal love and devotion, observing that household chores and domestic expectations are far beneath her. Alternatively, Morell believes that his wife needs his care and protection. However, neither man’s expectations of Candida are correct. Ultimately, she declares that she loves and must be with the “weaker of the two”--her husband. Morell is the man that needs her care and protection, who is selfless enough to step down when he believes she may love another, and the man to whom Candida wishes to be “the sum of all loving care”.
Show Information
- Book
- George Bernard Shaw
- Category
- Play
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1894
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- london, 1890s
- Cast Size
- small
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Mostly Male Cast, Regional Theatre, Includes Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Small Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher