The Apple Cart by George Bernard Shaw

Description

The satirical comedy of George Bernard Shaw, The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza, brings out some political philosophies to the readers through its chief characters, who deliver long monologues. The play narrates in a comic vein the outwitting of the popularly elected Prime Minister Proteus and his cabinet by the English King Magnus. His sparring against the ones who connive to strip him of his monarchy and his remaining political power gives a political and diplomatic momentum to the plot of the play. The opposition was in the process of reducing the king to a cipher by thwarting his right to influence public opinion through channels like the press and platform. The king’s mistress Orinthia has been presented as an enigmatic and influential character and generates a lot of interest.

The Apple Cart also demonstrates futuristic visions and deals with a universal subject that retains its appeal even among today’s generation. It shows extraordinary accuracy in its predictions. It is a comedy of ideas and is one of the very unique works of Shaw. The dialogues are replete with Shavian wit and have punch. Readers love Magnus’s brilliant quips and observations. It presents a day in the lives of King Magnus of England and his closest associates. The king proves to be a superior player of politics than his ministers. It is a finely structured play with the themes of democracy and politics constantly playing in the consciousness of the readers.

Shaw wisely debates the inertia of complacent political entities that are fed by the spoils of their visionary imperialism and leaves the readers to draw their own inferences. He brings out his conundrum through the words, “A king is not allowed the luxury of a good character. Our country has produced millions of blameless greengrocers but not one blameless monarch.”