Mr Warren

’s Profession Essay, Research Paper

Mrs. Warren?s Profession

Mrs. Warren?s profession, written by Mr. George Bernard Shaw, shows the world how women are being exploited through capitalism. The characters, stage, and themes make this an enjoyable play with a deep-rooted message. For example, during the 1800?s women could be employed as factory workers, bar maids, and prostitutes. Many opportunities afforded men were taboo for women. Men were able to attend college take the challenging subjects and get a degree. However, women could go to college, but would be denied the diploma and the classes needed to be competitive in the business world. There were three themes: exploiting women, greed, and Mrs. Warren?s drive to provide for her daughter and shelter her for the truth.

In the opening act the focus is placed on women in general. A picture of a naked woman overshadows the stage, subconsciously focusing your attention to the themes of prostitution and exploitation of women. This shows the fate women faced in society at that time.

Mrs. Warren is a very colorful character gaining knowledge through life experience rather than a college degree. She is a very smart woman who is able to survive and make a profitable living in a man?s world. She made some hard decisions growing up as a child., as a result, she chose to be a professional prostitute. Her life style allowed her the riches, and luxuries not afforded to most women.

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ENGLISH 102:ENGLISH COMP & LIT

INSTRUCTOR

April 24, 1999

Mrs. Warren?s main goal in life was providing a better life for her daughter. With the help of her sister she was able to get a brothel established and made it extremely successful. Unfortunately, the title of Madam has no honor and causes her daughter to reject her. She acquired wealth and power equal to that of her male business partner, Mr. George Crofts, but Mrs. Warren still lacks the respect by society due to her profession. She hated working as a bar made and didn?t want to end up like her half sisters.

To the contrary, Vivie, Mrs. Warren?s, daughter, having a very happy childhood did not become aware of her mother?s income until much later in life. Mrs. Warren provided a home, the finest education, and all manners of pleasantries for her daughter. During her upbringing, Vivie was unaware of how her mother?s professional success was attributed to a lifestyle she would come to hate and reject later in life. Because Vivie attends a private finishing school, she rarely sees her mother only shadowing her mother?s disreputable background. It is this background and Vivie?s high morals and schooling that soon become the conflict that will drive that would end their relationship as mother and daughter. Another result of Vivie?s schooling and upbringing is she becomes aware of how women are held back in society from attaining fame and fortune. Vivie later find out her mother is still exploiting women, as prostitutes, and has trouble dealing with the situation. With great pain and anguish she decides to sever ties with her mother and makes a life for her self as an accountant.

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ENGLISH 102:ENGLISH COMP & LIT

INSTRUCTOR:

April 24, 1999

Of the four men in the play only one man, the priest has no lust for Vivie, he was possibly her father. The priest son, Frank Gardner, on the other hand was truly interested in her for the money to support his was style living. Even after he found out Vivie might be his half sister, he still wants to marry her. He only gave her up when he found out she gave up her mother?s money and relationship. Praed was the most interesting male character. He was a likeable, friendly, great talker, and shows a deep respect and interest for Vivie and is a true friend to Mrs. Warren. He supports them both until the end trying to protect their feeling and by keeping the mood pleasant and calm. However, he did make several gestures during the play to Vivie, to capture her heart.

The scoundrel of the play appears to be Mr. George Crofts, a skilled businessman, who attempts to use his skills to gain Vivie?s hand in marriage. He tries to blackmail Mrs. Warren by threatening to tell Vivie the secret of her mother?s profession. Mrs. Warren throws him out of the house and wants nothing to do with him. Later, George Croft talks to Vivie alone, using his skills of gab, he tries to gain her favor and fails. So, he tells Vivie of all of her mother?s business practices, and she is owns many brothels. Vivie becomes overwhelmed with tears and tries to cope with the situation the best she can. This was a very tense moment in the play, this is climax of the play. Vivie is a strong character with morals that can?t be swayed, declines the marriage proposal, and leaves abruptly.

WILLIAM BURGER BURGER 4

ENGLISH 102:ENGLISH COMP & LIT

INSTRUCTOR: JEAN SALVATOR

April 24, 1999

Later Mrs. Warren finds Vivie at work, here Vivie and her comes to a painful understanding of what she must do. Vivie tells her mother that her business practice conflict with her ideals, then informs her mother that she no longer needs her money or wishes to see her again. Vivie seals her fate as a working woman with few rewards, long hours and without the comforts provided by Mrs. Warren.

The setting and stage design surely set the mood of the play. The naked photo over shadowing the entire play focus on the meaning of the play. Using woman servants, plainly dressed, throughout the play makes the point of a woman?s destiny in life. The scene were plain, lacked color but was fitting because it allowed George Bernard Shaw?s message to be heard. The lighting set the tempo of the play. The language shows the differences between the mother and her friends and Vivie. Vivie is a refined woman with class, well dressed and her mother, a nice woman, but lack the class and skills of Vivie world.

The characters, stage, and themes make this an enjoyable play. The play is very successful getting the message across about women being exploited as prostitutes. It was unfortunate that the good intentions and hard work of Mrs. Warren ultimately causes her to loose her daughter. It is ironic that her mother?s profession, a madam, which provides the life for Vivie with a fine education and all the perks of being rich, causes them to have different values and perceptions on life issues. Mrs. Warren did the best she could to provide for her daughter but lost her because of greed and refusing to stop exploiting women.