Misalliance (play)

Misalliance is a 1910 play by George Bernard Shaw. It is classified as a debate play, and falls into the subgenre of "conversation piece."

Synopsis: The play centers around a single day at a country house owned by John Tarleton, a self-made underwear magnate. The arrival of unexpected visitors – a pilot named Joey Percival and a mysterious woman named Lina Szczepanowska who parachutes onto the scene – disrupts the family dynamics and exposes the various misalliances present amongst the characters. The characters engage in lively discussions on topics such as marriage, social class, gender roles, parenting, and the nature of intelligence. A disgruntled clerk, Gunner, appears seeking revenge, and further complicates the day's events. The play ends without a traditional resolution, leaving the audience to ponder the various perspectives presented.

Characters:

• John Tarleton: A wealthy businessman and head of the Tarleton family.
• Hypatia Tarleton: John's daughter, engaged to Bentley Summerhays but yearning for adventure.
• Bentley Summerhays: A bookish and somewhat timid aristocrat, Hypatia's fiancé.
• Lord Summerhays: Bentley's father, a former Colonial Secretary.
• Mrs. Tarleton: John's wife and Hypatia's mother.
• Joey Percival: A pilot who crashes his plane near the Tarleton estate.
• Lina Szczepanowska: A Polish acrobat and pilot, who arrives with Joey.
• Gunner: A disgruntled clerk seeking revenge against the Tarleton family.

Themes:

• Marriage: The play critiques the conventional understanding of marriage, particularly the social and economic pressures that often dictate unions.
• Social Class: The play explores the tensions and misunderstandings between the upper and middle classes in Edwardian England.
• Gender Roles: The female characters, particularly Hypatia and Lina, challenge traditional expectations of women.
• Parenting: The play satirizes the ineffectiveness and often detrimental impact of conventional parenting methods.
• Intelligence: The play questions what constitutes true intelligence and challenges the conventional reverence for formal education.

Style:

• Debate Play: Misalliance is characterized by its long, philosophical discussions between characters who hold differing viewpoints. The plot is secondary to the exploration of ideas.
• Comedy: While addressing serious topics, the play is infused with Shaw's characteristic wit and satirical humor.

Reception: The initial reception of Misalliance was mixed, with some critics finding it overly talkative and lacking in dramatic action. However, it has since been recognized as a significant work in Shaw's oeuvre and is frequently revived.