Misalliance

by George Bernard Shaw

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is revered as one of the great British dramatists, credited not only with memorable works, but the revival of the then-suffering English theatre. Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland, left mostly to his own devices after his mother ran off to London to pursue a musical career. He educated himself for the most part, and eventually worked for a real estate agent. This experience founded in him a concern for social injustices, seeing poverty and general unfairness afoot, and would go on to address this in many of his works. In 1876, Shaw joined his mother in London where he would finally attain literary success. Written the first decade of the twentieth century, "Misalliance" is a sort of continuation of another of Shaw's play, "Getting Married". Set over the course of an afternoon, this play furthers Shaw's opinion that divorce should be an easily attainable thing.

Genres: Plays, Drama, Classics, Humor, Fiction, Satire, Audiobook

84 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 3, 1984

About the author

George Bernard Shaw stands as one of the most prolific and influential intellectuals of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a man whose literary output was matched only by his fervent commitment to social reform. Rising from a modest background in Dublin to become a global icon of letters, Shaw redefined the purpose of the stage, transforming it from a place of mere entertainment into a forum for rigorous intellectual debate and moral inquiry. His unique "Shavian" style—characterized by sharp-witted dialogue, paradoxical reasoning, and a relentless assault on Victorian hypocrisy—ensured that his voice resonated far beyond the footlights. As a playwright, critic, and philosopher, he remains a singular figure in history, being one of only two individuals to have been honored with both a Nobel Prize in Literature and an Academy Award. This rare crossover of high-art recognition and mainstream cinematic success speaks to his versatility and the enduring relevance of his narratives. His dramatic work, which includes over sixty plays, often tackled the most pressing issues of his day, from the rigid structures of the British class system to the complexities of gender roles and the ethical dilemmas of capitalism. In masterpieces like Pygmalion, he used the science of phonetics to demonstrate the artificiality of class distinctions, a theme that would later reach millions through the musical adaptation My Fair Lady. In Man and Superman, he delved into the philosophical concepts of the "Life Force" and the evolution of the human spirit, while Major Barbara forced audiences to confront the uncomfortable relationship between religious idealism and the industrial military complex. Beyond his theatrical achievements, Shaw was a foundational force in political thought, serving as a leading light of the Fabian Society. His advocacy for gradual socialist reform, rather than violent revolution, helped shape the trajectory of modern British politics and social welfare. He was instrumental in the creation of the London School of Economics, an institution that continues to influence global policy and economic theory. Shaw was also a formidable critic, whose reviews of music and drama set new standards for the profession, characterized by an uncompromising honesty and a deep knowledge of the arts. His personal lifestyle was as distinctive as his writing; a committed vegetarian, teetotaler, and non-smoker, he lived with a disciplined focus that allowed him to remain productive well into his ninth decade. He was a man of contradictions, often engaging in provocative public discourse that challenged the status quo, even when his views sparked intense controversy. His fascination with the "Superman" archetype and his occasional support for authoritarian figures reflected a complex, often elitist worldview that sought the betterment of humanity through radical intellectual evolution. Despite these complexities, his core mission was always rooted in a profound humanitarianism and a desire to expose the delusions that prevented society from progressing. He believed that the power of the written word could strip away the masks of respectability that hid social injustice, and his plays continue to be staged worldwide because the human foibles he satirized remain as prevalent today as they were during his lifetime. By blending humor with gravity and intellect with accessibility, Shaw created a body of work that serves as both a mirror and a compass for modern civilization. His legacy is not just in the scripts he left behind, but in the very way we think about the intersection of art, politics, and the individual’s responsibility to the collective good. He remains the quintessential public intellectual, a man who never feared to speak his mind or to demand that the world become a more rational and equitable place.

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 3 out of 5]

PERCIVAL. [to Hypatia] Does that satisfy you, Miss Tarleton?

HYPATIA. Yes: that will teach him to tell lies next time.

BENTLEY. [rising to make place for Gunner and handing him the pen]
You mean it will teach him to tell the truth next time.

[Brad · Rating 5 out of 5]

There once was a fine group of people in a fine country house with a fine glass pavilion -- a crystal palace of sorts -- and this fine group of people was made up of fine folks from the upper class: lords who were diplomats to Genghis Khan (not the murderous thug but a region); fine folks from the middle class: a merchant, his wife and their children (albehim a merchant of underwear, making them sort of fruit of the loon-type folk); and these fine folk had gathered together to debate some fine issues and ideas, and to discuss some fine ideas and issues, and to use these fine ideas and issues to flirt and to fight. But wait! that's not all because a Goggled Man (a pilot of the flimsiest sort of biplane) and his passenger, a Polish, acrobatic dominatrix, crash in the garden outside that fine sort of crystal palace just before a lower middle class (white collared clerk, don't you know) anarchist comes in guns at the ready to fight for the honour of his dead mother (who doesn't need his anarchism or her honour). And along with this fine group of people were those fine issues and ideas that they would discuss and debate, and fight and flirt over: everything from that "vulgar" socialism to the independence of women, from anarchy to the dependence of moneyed boys, from class struggle to the ridiculousness of the wedding state -- and all would be well versed and poorly versed and opinionated and clever and foolish and playful and funny and somehow lovable. And all would be the people of Bernard Shaw's glorious imagination. And all would make my son's and my COVID isolation that much less painful. Bravo, Bernard!

[Eddie Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this before seeing The Orange Tree Theatre’s production. If I had read it afterward, it might have got a fourth star! The cast and direction were superb and really brought Shaw’s lopsided and over-wordy contraption to life. Good things here: he plays quite radically with gender roles and assumptions; the play’s major theme is feminist (there’s a brilliant and fiery last speech by Lina the Polish aviator, Mrs Pankhurst could hardly have done better) - and socialism vegetarianism and teetotalism get a look in too (paring back on the ideas and debate might have helped the drama). But in a good performance, this was charming and funny, and felt relevant.

[Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dated, enjoyable, fine acting

[Shane Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first play I have read from George Bernard Shaw, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Most of the humor still lands! In spite of the play being set in contemporary times 113 years ago, unfortunately most of the problems of the characters have yet to be solved.

The world is still full of old men who think the best of themselves and very little of anyone else, young men who think only about money, idealistic mentally ill activists, and manipulative jerks. The women of the story are less the subject of the playwright's derision, though one in particular is very intent on being wicked, and they still get a lot of the funniest lines.

My one caveat is that the play contains quite a lot of ideas and language that are offensive to a modern reader: sexism, classism, endorsements of violence, and racism, including using the N word twice. Here's the bit of dialogue where the N word is used with the slur removed. I think the author was clearly expressing disapproval for these ideas but you may judge for yourself:

TARLETON. Good thing the empire. Educates us. Opens our minds. Knocks the Bible out of us. And civilizes the other chaps.

LORD SUMMERHAYS. Yes: it civilizes them. And it uncivilizes us. Their gain. Our loss, Tarleton, believe me, our loss.

TARLETON. Well, why not? Averages out the human race. Makes the ██████ half an Englishman. Makes the Englishman half a ██████.

LORD SUMMERHAYS. Speaking as the unfortunate Englishman in question, I don't like the process. If I had my life to live over again, I'd stay at home and supercivilize myself.

TARLETON. Nonsense! Don't be selfish. Think how you've improved the other chaps. Look at the Spanish empire! Bad job for Spain, but splendid for South America. Look at what the Romans did for Britain! They burst up and had to clear out; but think of all they taught us! They were the making of us: I believe there was a Roman camp on Hindhead: I'll shew it to you tomorrow. Thats the good side of Imperialism: it's unselfish. I despise the Little Englanders: they're always thinking about England. Smallminded. I'm for the Parliament of man, the federation of the world. Read Tennyson.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
I listened to this full cast audiobook edition (courtesy of the LATW website) and read along in my Kindle omnibus "The Plays of Shaw". If I hadn't been reading along, I wouldn't have realized that this audiobook edition is slightly abridged. In the end, the difficulty of matching the two editions was too much trouble so I listened to the audio then went back and read the text.

I did like the cast of the audiobook and understand why most of the cuts were made but I found the original play funnier (plus, I like Shaw's stage directions & commentary). I would put the written text at 4* while this audiobook edition was only 3.5*.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first acquaintance with George Bernard Shaw. And WTF?!

Over the years I have read so many interesting quotes by this author. Now after finishing this revelry of a drama, I really want to read more.

[Jesse Field · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly an experiment for Shaw, at least in the character Lina Szczepanowska, who goes further to defy gender norms. This play was from 1908, but feels so contemporary! Thanks again to L.A. Theatre Works, whose 2004 version I listened to. Superbly acted, it's a real joy for my morning commutes.

[Kevin Dingess · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Misalliance" unfolds over a single afternoon in the home of the prosperous Tarleton family, where unexpected visitors spark romantic entanglements, generational conflict, and lively debate. The plot takes a comic turn when a Polish acrobat and her companion crash, literally, into the conservatory. Their arrival disrupts social expectations and fuels discussions about marriage, class privilege, gender roles, and youthful rebellion. Shaw uses rapid dialogue and eccentric characters to mock social pretensions and to explore the changing dynamics of early 20th-century family life.

[Meg Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally tried to read this play earlier this year and bailed. I am an avid reader and theater goer but, for some reason, I struggle to read plays. There is just a disconnect between the text and my brain. However, I listened to the audio with the full cast and the story became immediately better. I enjoy British humor. The play was overall pretty decent and it made me really miss being able to go to the theater!

[Haoyan Do · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's enjoyable to listen to the conversation mixing cynicism with idealism, men's desire with women's wishes. Shaw's comments on marriage are always funny. Somehow I don't imagine Shaw was having a bad marriage, but rather he thinks the concept is a little dull. It's paradoxical that what he deems dull is the source of the numerous funny lines in his play.

[Cal McCormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably would not have started this book if I knew it was actually a play, though I’m glad I was ignorant.

I downloaded this book from Standard Ebooks with a bunch of other classic/copyright-free books.

I really enjoyed this play and the interplay between the various characters, and even a century on the humor was intelligible and funny. It was a good way to spend a few hours.

[Sean Kottke · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably works better in live, face-to-face/video performance than on the page or strictly audio. In contrast to, say, "Arms and the Man," this felt like a light comedy of manners disguised as a free-for-all argument about gender politics and class divisions/exploitation.

[Ericka Clou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love all the feminism in this book, and it was funny and charming. Mostly it was little pointless and pretty harsh on marriage. It's easy to dismiss marriage if you've never had a good one.

[Taylor's♡Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Misalliance is probably my least favourite Shaw play. It's still a very enjoyable read if you're a fan of the playwright. However, if you've never read Shaw, I wouldn't start here.

[Vladimiro Sousa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a nice little play of ancient usages and customs.

[Jonathan McPherson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty par for the course Shaw play.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now my favorite Shaw play!

[Asher · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Shaw's better early comedies, I think. More substantive than some, certainly.

[Allison Reding · Rating 5 out of 5]

such creative use of language

[Irene Money · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of Stoppard and Shaw course

[Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like his previous play, "Getting Married," George Bernard Shaw's "Misalliance" is written in one continuous act. Lots of characters come and go. The basic theme seems to be that the men and women are paired incorrectly (misallied). One of the best characters was an aviatrix who literally falls from the sky and disrupts things. Her last name, of Polish background, starts Szcz... and is bungled in various ways by many of the other characters.

I enjoyed the play all right, but while working through it I debated whether to pause my project of reading Shaw in roughly chronological order. By this stage in his career, the plays are long and the introductions are longer. It's getting tiring! But I think I will persevere. Pretty soon I will be running up against the end of public domain status, which will hamper my preferred way to read these plays (free eBooks on my phone).

To sum up, "Misalliance" is middling Shaw. Not the best and not the worst, but you should probably start elsewhere.

[Ronan Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are very few areas of literature about which I'm not utterly ashamed to be almost-entirely ignorant, but perhaps none is quite so egregious as the amount of Irish classics I've largely foregone. And so to my first Shaw (not only have I never read any; I once lost out on winning a film quiz by not knowing he remains the only person to win both Nobel Prize and Oscar), which had me cackling to the point where co-workers started to look concerned (I work a dull desk job where I've recently realised I can just plug in audiobooks and tune out of everything; Librivox's free performance of this highly recommended). Not so much casually radical as casually caustic in showing contemporary society quite how far behind it was where simple matters or equality seemed to be radical. Gosh, it's a lark.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite Shaw plays so far. Social critique is nicely blended with an engaging story and delightful characters. Nicely over the top while still remaining grounded. Though some of the concerns are certainly dated, it works as long as you keep it in the timeperiod in which it was written (though its current relevance is obviously limited).

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long and the ending is a little dissatisfying (except for the fact that you've reached the end). However, there are some great thoughts in there and some hilarious moments. Overall I enjoyed it and would love to see this done locally.

[Jennifer Wyld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny characters, good dialogue, quick read

[Jason Loeffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I once did one of Bently's monologues for an audition, so this play will always have a special place in my heart.

[Boni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable work from Bernard Shaw. An uproarious comedy about the family of John Tarleton, a millionaire owner of Tarleton’s Underwear. Very funny indeed!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Shavian play. I am going to be sad when I finish all of them.

[Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself laughing constantly. I also found myself wanting to find someone like Lina.