G. B. Shaw's play, Candida: Character of Eugene Marchbanks

Candida by G.B. Shaw

(Character of Eugene Marchbanks)

Q. Discuss the character of Eugene Marchbanks in Candida.

Answer: Eugene Marchbanks is a central character in George Bernard Shaw's play Candida. He is a young poet who is infatuated with Candida, the wife of Reverend James Morell. He is the person who is in conflict with himself. He is torn between his desire for Candida and his insecurity about his own abilities. He also struggles with his own ego, which drives him to pursue Candida even when it is clear that she does not return his feelings. Here are some aspects of Eugene Marchbanks' character:

Eugene is a character who is deeply influenced by his own past. He grew up in a wealthy family and was educated in the best schools, but he feels disconnected from his privileged background. He is critical of the values and expectations that come with wealth and status, and he sees himself as someone who is rebelling against his own upbringing. Apart from all these aspects of his life he is a young man who is full of passion and idealism. He sees the world in a very romanticized way and is deeply attracted to Candida's beauty, intellect, and independence. He is also deeply troubled by the inequalities he sees in society and is critical of the established order.

Eugene is also a deeply insecure character. He is aware of his youth and lack of experience, and this makes him doubt himself and his abilities. He sees himself as inferior to Morell and other established figures in society, which leads him to seek validation and affirmation from Candida. Eugene also challenges the traditional gender roles of his time. He sees Candida as a woman who is capable of making her own decisions and living her own life, and he is critical of Morell's attempts to control and protect her. He also sees himself as someone who can help Candida realize her full potential.

Eugene is a character who represents a challenge to the established order. He is critical of the conservative values that Morell represents and sees himself as a voice for a new generation of artists and thinkers. He is a symbol of the modernist movement that was emerging at the time the play was written.

In his character the readers can notice his emotional manipulation. He is a poet who values imagination and inspiration over reason and logic. He sees himself as part of a larger movement of artists and writers who are challenging the established order and creating a new vision for the world. He uses his poetic skills to woo Candida and make her feel special. He plays on her sympathies and her desire to help others, and he tries to convince her that she is not truly happy with Morell. He also tries to pit Candida against Morell, telling her that he does not appreciate her as he should.

In Eugene’s character, there we find the lack of sincerity. While he claims to be deeply in love with Candida, he is also aware of his own ego and the thrill of pursuing a married woman. He enjoys the drama and the sense of rebellion that comes with his infatuation. This makes him somewhat unreliable as a narrator of his own emotions. Moreover, we can safely deduce that Eugene is a character who is ultimately tragic. He is unable to win Candida's love, and he realizes that his infatuation was based more on his own ego than on any genuine connection with her. He is left feeling disillusioned and alone, and his poetic vision of the world is shattered by the reality of his own experience.

In summary, Eugene Marchbanks is a young, passionate, and idealistic character who is deeply infatuated with Candida. He is emotionally manipulative and not entirely sincere in his feelings, but he represents a challenge to the established order and is a symbol of the modernist movement. His character provides a contrast to the conservative values represented by Morell and raises questions about the nature of love, passion, and the roles of men and women in society.

*****

👉 'Sailing to Byzantium' by W.B. Yeats - Critical analysis

👉 'In a Station of the Metro' by Ezra Pound as an imagist poem

👉 A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen: Late 19th century Middle-Class values

👉 Back-formation and its importance in English language

👉 Split infinitives in the English language: importance and function

👉 Grimm's Law, a linguistic principle of the systematic sound shifts