Plays, Pleasant and Unpleasant

work by Shaw

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July 1, 2026

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George Bernard Shaw's Plays Pleasant and Unpleasant is a collection of his early works, divided into two categories. The "unpleasant" plays, such as Widowers' Houses and Mrs. Warren's Profession, confront audiences with harsh social realities like slum landlordism and organized prostitution. Shaw used these plays to expose societal hypocrisies and force spectators to confront uncomfortable truths.12

The "pleasant" plays, including Arms and the Man and Candida, aimed for a lighter tone while still exploring complex themes. These works often satirized romantic conventions and examined social dynamics with wit and intelligence. Shaw's preface to the collection explains his intention to use drama to address social issues, blending humor with serious commentary.13

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George Bernard Shaw
First plays
…were revised and published in Plays Pleasant and Unpleasant (1898). The first of the second group, Arms and the Man (performed 1894), has a Balkan setting and makes lighthearted, though sometimes mordant, fun of romantic falsifications of both love and warfare. The second, Candida (performed 1897), was important for English…
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…were revised and published in Plays Pleasant and Unpleasant (1898). The first of the second group, Arms and the Man (performed 1894), has a Balkan setting and makes lighthearted, though sometimes mordant, fun of romantic falsifications of both love and warfare. The second, Candida (performed 1897), was important for English…
Read More