Linear Structure And Shavian Satire And Humor

Bernard Shaw is a world-famous dramatist, who was born in Ireland. He is respected for his vivid and appropriate humor and his sharp and incisive satire. But why do his problem plays, which criticize the social evils of his own time, and his characters' long discussions still attract a large number of readers and audience now? Candida is one of Shaw's famous parataxis plays. This paper tries to analyze Candida's linear structure and then finds out the relationship between the linear structure and Shavian satire and humor. Thus, the whole thesis paper will be divided into five parts:The Introduction part introduces the recent studies of Candida, the new point and the rough picture of the structure of this thesis paper. This part also explains particularly such words as linear structure, the Discussion Play and comedic reversal or parataxis, etc.Chapter I describes in detail the prologue of Candida, the appearance order of Candida's, characters, and Candida's, main subjects, conflict and climax, etc. To sum up. the outline of Candida's linear structure is: presentation and conflict (climax) - minor characters' showing - climaxes. So Candida has included some new elements, such as discussion and comedic reversal or parataxis, etc. But how does Candida's linear structure (a good "receptacle" of these new elements) help Bernard Shaw with Shavian satire and humor? Chapter II and Chapter III will attempt to answer this question.Chapter II defines Shavian satire as Shaw's self-satire and comedic reversal or parataxis; and they are shown through the linear structure's scientific arrangement of the play's characters and climaxes.Chapter III explains the reason why Candida's linear structure sets minor character's "comedic scene" into Act II and comedic reversal or parataxis into Act III. This kind of arrangement helps Bernard Shaw much to interpret his humor.The Conclusion part reviews Candida's linear structure and Shavian satire and humor. At the same time, Bernard Shaw never ceases to refine his structure to express Shavian drama art.