The “Devil of a Childhood” and the Creation of “Mother-Woman”: An Analysis of G B Shaw’s Portrayal of Woman Characters

Abstract

The literary world of George Bernard Shaw accorded a prominent role to women. Shaw, from a psychological standpoint, was an almost quintessential embodiment of a shy individual grappling with an inferiority complex. Shaw’s tumultuous upbringing, dubbed a “devil of a childhood,” coupled with his family dynamics and the prevailing social conditions of his time, undoubtedly played a pivotal role in shaping his perceptions of women. His innate sense of inferiority and androgynous nature must have exerted a considerable influence on his ideas concerning women. Transcending the conventional portrayals, Shaw accorded women an elevated status, depicting them as figures commanding respect and admiration. This distinct perspective, the paper contends, emanated from Shaw’s own insecurities and his propensity to blur the boundaries of gender norms.