Candida

<p><strong>Candida</strong> is a play by <strong>George Bernard Shaw</strong> first performed in <strong>1894</strong>. It is a comedy-drama that explores themes of <strong>love marriage gender roles and idealism versus reality</strong>. The play subverts traditional romantic tropes by presenting a love triangle where the expected outcome is cleverly reversed.</p><p>The play takes place in the home of <strong>Reverend James Morell</strong> a popular and respected Christian Socialist minister in London. He is deeply devoted to his wife <strong>Candida</strong> and believes their marriage is perfect. However their world is disrupted by the arrival of <strong>Eugene Marchbanks</strong> an idealistic young poet who is in love with Candida.</p><ul><li><ul><li><strong>Morell</strong> is a strong charismatic speaker and a confident husband.</li><li><strong>Candida</strong> his intelligent and graceful wife seems perfectly content.</li><li><strong>Eugene Marchbanks</strong> a sensitive and emotional young poet declares that Morell does not truly understand or deserve Candida.</li></ul></li></ul><p>Morell dismisses Eugene's affections as childish infatuation but Candida remains amused and intrigued by the young poet's passion.</p><p>Eugene confronts Morell arguing that Candida is <strong>trapped in a dull predictable marriage</strong> and should be with someone who truly <strong>worships her</strong>-namely Eugene himself.</p><p>Morell shaken by this challenge begins to doubt whether Candida loves him as deeply as he has always assumed.</p><p>Candida is forced to <strong>choose between her husband Morell and the young poet Eugene</strong>. However rather than selecting one over the other in a romantic way she makes an unexpected declaration:</p><p>She chooses <strong>Morell-not because he is strong but because he is the weaker of the two men</strong> and needs her more.</p><p>This twist reverses the expected gender dynamic: instead of Candida being the one who needs a strong protector she is the <strong>powerful figure</strong> who holds both men emotionally in her hands.</p><p>Candida challenges Victorian ideals of <strong>passive submissive wives</strong>. She is <strong>clever witty and in control</strong>-able to see through both men's illusions. Unlike the typical love triangle she does not belong to either man; instead <strong>they both belong to her</strong> in different ways.</p><p>When <em>Candida</em> was first performed audiences were surprised by the ending. Many expected a dramatic passionate choice but Shaw's <strong>satirical and feminist approach</strong> turned the love triangle on its head. The play remains one of Shaw's most celebrated works influencing later portrayals of independent female characters.</p><p></p><p></p>