For Better or Worse
For Better or Worse is a play written by George Bernard Shaw that explores the themes of marriage and relationships. The story follows two couples who are struggling with their marriages and the challenges they face in trying to maintain them. Throughout the play, Shaw uses humor and satire to comment on societal expectations and gender roles within marriage.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1934 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama · 588 words
First lines
Jesus, however, did not express a complicated view of marriage. His objection to it was quite simple, as we have seen. He perceived that nobody could live the higher life unless money and sexual love were obtainable without sacrificing it; and he saw that the effect of marriage as it existed among the Jews (and as it still exists among ourselves) was to make the couples sacrifice every higher consideration until they had fed and pleased one another. The worst of it is that this dangerous preposterousness in marriage, instead of improving as the general conduct of married couples improves, becomes much worse. The selfish man to whom his wife is nothing but a slave, the selfish woman to whom her husband is nothing but a scapegoat and a breadwinner, are not held back from spiritual or any other adventures by fear of their effect on the welfare of their mates.
What this Textopian page supports
For Better or Worse is listed on Textopian as a play by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1934 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1934 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama, Political Fiction, Religious Fiction
- Length: 588 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for For Better or Worse by George Bernard Shaw
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering For Better or Worse?
- How does this play by George Bernard Shaw fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — The text explores complex ideas about marriage, individual freedom, and societal norms, reflecting a deep philosophical inquiry.
- Social Commentary — The work critiques societal structures, particularly marriage, and its impact on personal and spiritual growth.
- Drama — The narrative presents dramatic conflicts between personal desires and societal expectations, typical of dramatic literature.
- Political Fiction — The discussion of economic dependence and communism introduces political themes into the narrative.
Tags
marriage · comedy · drama · social commentary · relationships · conflict · gender roles · satire · love · class · morality · dialogue