Briefly discuss George Bernard Shaw' s dramatic achievement in terms of the major subjects and features of his plays.
(1) STRUCTURALLY AND THEMATICALLY, SHAW FOLLOWED THE GREAT TRADITIONS OF REALISM. AS A REALISTIC DRAMATIST, HE TOOK THE MODERN SOCIAL ISSUES AS HIS SUBJECTS WITH THE AIM OF DIRECTING SOCIAL REFORMS. MOST OF HIS PLAYS， TERMED AS PROBLEM PLAYS, ARE CONCERNED WITH POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, MORAL, OR RELIGIOUS PROBLEMS. AND HIS PLAYS HAVE ONLY ONE PASSION, I.E. INDIGNATION AGAINST OPPRESSION AND EXPLOITATION, AGAINST HYPOCRISY AND LYING, AGAINST PROSTITUTION AND SLAVERY, AGAINST POVERTY, DIRT AND DISORDER.(2) ONE FEATURE OF SHAW’S CHARACTERIZATION IS THAT HE MAKES THE TRICK OF SHOWING UP ONE CHARACTER VIVIDLY AT THE EXPENSE OF ANOTHER. USUALLY HE WOULD TAKE AN UNCONVENTIONAL CHARACTER, A PERSON WITH THE GIFT OF INSIGHT AND FREEDOM, AND IMPINGE IT UPON A GROUP OF CONVENTIONAL SOCIAL ANIMALS, SO AS TO REVEAL AT EVERY TURN STOCK NOTIONS, PREJUDICES AND DISHONESTIES. ANOTHER FEATURE IS THAT SHAW'S CHARACTERS ARE THE REPRESENTATIVES OF IDEAS, POINTS OF VIEW, THAT SHIFT AND ALTER DURING THE PLAY, FOR MR. SHAW IS PRIMARILY INTERESTED IN DOCTRINES.(3) MUCH OF SHAVIAN DRAMA IS CONSTRUCTED AROUND THE INVERSION OF A CONVENTIONAL THEATRICAL SITUATION. THE INVERSION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF AN INTERPRETATION OF LIFE, AND IT IS ALSO USED IN CHARACTER PORTRAYAL TO ACHIEVE COMIC EFFECTS.(4) SHAW'S PLAYS HAVE PLOTS, BUT THEY DO NOT WORK BY PLOTS. THE PLOT IS USUALLY THE DISREGARDED BACKBONE TO ONE LONG, UNBROKEN CONVERSATION. IT IS THE VITALITY OF THE TALK THAT TAKES PRIMACY OVER MERE STORY. ACTION IS REDUCED TO A MINIMUM, WHILE THE DIALOGUE AND THE INTERPLAY OF THE MINDS OF THE CHARACTERS MAINTAIN THE INTEREST OF THE AUDIENCE.
