The Perfect Gentleman
The Perfect Gentleman is a play written by George Bernard Shaw that explores the concept of gentlemanliness and its relationship to social class. The story follows the character of Sir John Tanner, who is a wealthy aristocrat with progressive views on politics and society. Throughout the play, he engages in debates with other characters about what it means to be a true gentleman and how this relates to issues such as gender roles, education, and morality. The play is known for its witty dialogue and sharp social commentary, making it a classic example of Shaw's satirical style.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1930 · Genre: Satire, Social Commentary, Philosophical · 218 words
First lines
The fatal reservation of the gentleman is that he sacrifices everything to his honor except his gentility.
A gentleman of our days is one who has money enough to do what every fool would do if he could afford it: that is, consume without producing.
The true diagnostic of modern gentility is parasitism.
No elaboration of physical or moral accomplishment can atone for the sin of parasitism.
What this Textopian page supports
The Perfect Gentleman is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1930 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1930 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Social Commentary, Philosophical, Political, Cultural Criticism
- Length: 218 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Perfect Gentleman 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Perfect Gentleman?
- How does this essay by George Bernard Shaw fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Man On Top by G. K. Chesterton
- The Hospitality Of The Captain by G. K. Chesterton
- Celibacy No Remedy by George Bernard Shaw
- The Philanderer by George Bernard Shaw
- On Approval by Saki
- A Sacrifice To Necessity by Saki
Genres
- Satire — The text critiques societal norms and the concept of modern gentility through irony and humor.
- Social Commentary — The work examines and criticizes the behaviors and values of the upper class.
- Philosophical — The narrative explores philosophical ideas about honor, morality, and societal roles.
- Political — The text discusses political themes, particularly the role of the gentleman in society and his impact on national interests.
Tags
society · class · morality · gender · wit · satire · romance · dialogue · philosophy · social critique · character study · irony