The Comic Genius in Shaw’s Drama

Abstract

George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950) the socialist, politician, economist, social reformer and the Nobel Laureate playwright, is one of the most venerable authors in the history of literature in general and the theater in particular. He is a great laughter making and thinking motivator, where his comedies always revealed the values of the time. His plays are enjoyable and resonating until today. In this respect, the current article aims to explore Shaw’s comic genius and his contributions to the art of comedy as a leading dramatist of the twentieth century. It reveals how he employs jokes and humour to deliver his philosophy and his intellectual judgment on life in a clever and amusing way. The paper describes the development of Shaw’s comic and technical style. It focuses on some of Shaw’s memorable comedies, which display his comic genius during his career.