Man and Superman - George Bernard Shaw (read an ebook week txt) š
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
Book online Ā«Man and Superman - George Bernard Shaw (read an ebook week txt) šĀ». Author George Bernard Shaw
not to marry you because he intends to marry you himself?
Ann
Alarmed. No no: you mustnāt lead him to believe that I said that: I donāt for a moment think that Jack knows his own mind. But itās clear from my fatherās will that he wished me to marry Jack. And my mother is set on it.
Octavius
But you are not bound to sacrifice yourself always to the wishes of your parents.
Ann
My father loved me. My mother loves me. Surely their wishes are a better guide than my own selfishness.
Octavius
Oh, I know how unselfish you are, Ann. But believe meā āthough I know I am speaking in my own interestā āthere is another side to this question. Is it fair to Jack to marry him if you do not love him? Is it fair to destroy my happiness as well as your own if you can bring yourself to love me?
Ann
Looking at him with a faint impulse of pity. Tavy, my dear, you are a nice creatureā āa good boy.
Octavius
Humiliated. Is that all?
Ann
Mischievously in spite of her pity. Thatās a great deal, I assure you. You would always worship the ground I trod on, wouldnāt you?
Octavius
I do. It sounds ridiculous; but itās no exaggeration. I do; and I always shall.
Ann
Always is a long word, Tavy. You see, I shall have to live up always to your idea of my divinity; and I donāt think I could do that if we were married. But if I marry Jack, youāll never be disillusionedā āat least not until I grow too old.
Octavius
I too shall grow old, Ann. And when I am eighty, one white hair of the woman I love will make me tremble more than the thickest gold tress from the most beautiful young head.
Ann
Quite touched. Oh, thatās poetry, Tavy, real poetry. It gives me that strange sudden sense of an echo from a former existence which always seems to me such a striking proof that we have immortal souls.
Octavius
Do you believe that is true?
Ann
Tavy, if it is to become true you must lose me as well as love me.
Octavius
Oh! He hastily sits down at the little table and covers his face with his hands.
Ann
With conviction. Tavy: I wouldnāt for worlds destroy your illusions. I can neither take you nor let you go. I can see exactly what will suit you. You must be a sentimental old bachelor for my sake.
Octavius
Desperately. Ann: Iāll kill myself.
Ann
Oh no you wonāt: that wouldnāt be kind. You wonāt have a bad time. You will be very nice to women; and you will go a good deal to the opera. A broken heart is a very pleasant complaint for a man in London if he has a comfortable income.
Octavius
Considerably cooled, but believing that he is only recovering his self-control. I know you mean to be kind, Ann. Jack has persuaded you that cynicism is a good tonic for me. He rises with quiet dignity.
Ann
Studying him slyly. You see, Iām disillusionizing you already. Thatās what I dread.
Octavius
You do not dread disillusionizing Jack.
Ann
Her face lighting up with mischievous ecstasyā āwhispering. I canāt: he has no illusions about me. I shall surprise Jack the other way. Getting over an unfavorable impression is ever so much easier than living up to an ideal. Oh, I shall enrapture Jack sometimes!
Octavius
Resuming the calm phase of despair, and beginning to enjoy his broken heart and delicate attitude without knowing it. I donāt doubt that. You will enrapture him always. And heā āthe fool!ā āthinks you would make him wretched.
Ann
Yes: thatās the difficulty, so far.
Octavius
Heroically. Shall I tell him that you love him?
Ann
Quickly. Oh no: heād run away again.
Octavius
Shocked. Ann: would you marry an unwilling man?
Ann
What a queer creature you are, Tavy! Thereās no such thing as a willing man when you really go for him. She laughs naughtily. Iām shocking you, I suppose. But you know you are really getting a sort of satisfaction already in being out of danger yourself.
Octavius
Startled. Satisfaction! Reproachfully. You say that to me!
Ann
Well, if it were really agony, would you ask for more of it?
Octavius
Have I asked for more of it?
Ann
You have offered to tell Jack that I love him. Thatās self-sacrifice, I suppose; but there must be some satisfaction in it. Perhaps itās because youāre a poet. You are like the bird that presses its breast against the sharp thorn to make itself sing.
Octavius
Itās quite simple. I love you; and I want you to be happy. You donāt love me; so I canāt make you happy myself; but I can help another man to do it.
Ann
Yes: it seems quite simple. But I doubt if we ever know why we do things. The only really simple thing is to go straight for what you want and grab it. I suppose I donāt love you, Tavy; but sometimes I feel as if I should like to make a man of you somehow. You are very foolish about women.
Octavius
Almost coldly. I am content to be what I am in that respect.
Ann
Then you must keep away from them, and only dream about them. I wouldnāt marry you for worlds, Tavy.
Octavius
I have no hope, Ann: I accept my ill luck. But I donāt think you quite know how much it hurts.
Ann
You are so softhearted! Itās queer that you should be so different from Violet. Violetās as hard as nails.
Octavius
Oh no. I am sure Violet is thoroughly womanly at heart.
Ann
With some impatience. Why do you say that? Is it unwomanly to be thoughtful and businesslike and sensible? Do you want Violet to be an idiotā āor something worse, like me?
Octavius
Something worseā ālike you! What do you mean, Ann?
Ann
Oh well, I donāt mean that, of course. But I have a great respect for Violet.
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