Analysis of the text “The Man of Destiny”

Bernard Shaw was the British writer, novelist, playwriter, Nobel laureate in
literature, social worker. He was the second (after Shakespeare) the most popular
playwriter in the English theatre. Genre variety in line with its wide emotional
spectrum – from sarcasm to the elegiac meditation on the fate of people who are
the victims of ugly public establishment. At the heart of the artistic method – a
paradox as a means of over throwing the dogmatism and prejudice.

The basic theme of “The Man of Destiny” may be defined as the historical incident
of Napoleon Bonaparte’s military career. The action quickly develops and achieves
the culmination point – there is a lieutenant who has been sent for the letters and
dispatches, but has been tricked by Lady. Napoleon was waiting impatiently at an
inn for a packet of dispatches to arrive, in which he will discover the truth of a
personal betrayal. Pretending that Lady takes care of her close friend, she makes
Napoleon think that he’s wife is cheating on him with his friend, and then leaves.

The main problem may be defined in the following way: every person has their
weak points, no influential acquaintances, success in life can insure us against
them. Even Napoleon has a weakness – personal treachery.

The plot of the story centers round Napoleon Bonaparte. He arrested the lieutenant
who must brought dispatches but it was stolen by Lady. When Lady came he
demanded his dispatches. But there was private letter of his wife and this lady
knew her and must take away this letter, but Napoleon caught them with the
power. Lady began to prompt him that this private letter belonged to his wife
where she wrote to his friend Barras. Napoleon knew it but he didn’t want to give
out that he knew it, because only his wife helped him with friendship with Barras.
And this Lady shows that Napoleon has lost his honor by his actions.

The story is written in a 3rd person narration. The story interlaced with dialogues of
the characters and in intervals of these dialogues we can see the remarks which
show character’s emotions. Remarks are the main feature of B. Shaw. An account
of events interwoven with description of Napoleon’s character, his relations with
his wife and the others people.

The prevailing mood is emotional, because the author use the remarks in which he
describes emotions, also it may be dramatic

This text can be divided into 5 logically complete parts:

First part starts with “A little inn in North Italy” and ends with “Come,
lieutenant…”. It can be entitle as “Lieutenant’s attempts to disrobe Lady”
Second part starts with “How can I thank you…” and ends with “… with as little
ceremony as I took the handkerchief”. It can be entitle as “Napoleon’s anger and
persistence”

Third part starts with “General: do you threaten women?” and ends with “… You
see I shew my confidence in you” and can be entitle as “Napoleon show his
compassion”

Forth part starts with “This in cautious echo of the lieutenant undoes her” and ends
with “The moment he takes them, she hurries across …” and can be entitle as “The
sharp changing compassion in anger”

Fifth part starts with “(gloating over the papers):Aha!That’s right…” and ends with
“(She goes indignantly towards the inner door)” and can be entitle as “The lost of
honor”

In this text B.Shaw use paradox, because we wait one but he overturns the events
in unexpected way. Also we can see that he use a lot of repetitions (Tut!Tut!,Pray!
Pray!); epithets (coldly, graceful, radiant); allusion (Dalila!Dalila;Caesar’s wife is
above suspicion);anaphora (So I’ve got you.So I’ve disguised, You can fight…
You are not afraid…. You teach us); detachment (I’m going to see you lose your
honor… and your happiness).

In this text we see the use of colloquial speech, because of many dialogues. A lot
of incomplete, elliptical sentences (General-, Good, Nothing), contracted forms
(I’ve, I’m, I’ll). These peculiarities show us that this text is play.