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Essay / Theme of Love in Arms and The Man
Raina and Sergius, the young aristocratic couple in the play, seem very much in love. They speak and behave like characters in a heroic romance. the valiant young hero, just like a knight in a novel, dedicates his military achievements to his beloved; dearest: all my actions are yours. You inspired me. I went through the war like a knight. Their love seems to be an ideal love. They call it “higher love.” Their love seems to have reached a spiritual plane of perfection, where he represents all the masculine virtues and she symbolizes all the feminine graces. in such love there can be no malice, no pettiness, no deception. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay However, we soon see that as Raina's back is turned, Sergius begins to flirt with Louka, Raina, for her part, declares that she wants to "do or say something to him." 'awful' and is attracted to the stranger who took refuge in her room during the war. We realized they were both hypocrites. Raina plays the role of a virtuous upper-class lady, while Sergious plays the role of a noble hero. They do this because they have been taught to admire such role models. They fall in love with each other for the same reason. The brave and noble hero is expected to fall in love with the beautiful and virtuous lady, and vice versa: this is why Sergei and Raina believed that they were destined to be together. But they only play one role; and since these roles are not what they really are, they are not really in love with each other but rather with the idea of the other. They are enamored with the outward appearance of excellence that others project, without even knowing the real person beneath the facade. Both donned a peersona that they believe will impress the world; the pressure of maintaining this personality can be quite exhausting, and so they are happy to shed it when they can do so safely without being discovered. As Sergious says, “higher love” is a “very tiring thing to maintain for a while…”. after that, one feels the need for some relief.” It's the same with Raina: when Sergious is out of the area, she walks "with a perceptible looseness in her manner." Raina and Sergious are so busy playing a role they like that they are no longer true to themselves. Shaw encourages us to be honest with ourselves instead of seeking ideas of divine perfection based on fallacious notions. Sergious and Raina must face the fact that there are ideals of love and false ones, and that they don't really love each other. It is a Bluntschli who makes Raina understand herself and the truth, even as Louka makes Sergei's self-realization possible. When they are forced to examine their feelings, they discover within themselves the courage to follow their hearts instead of trying to meet social expectations..