Iterinde makes i elaborately clear, However, charming and seductive may be his mistress, Orimthia, he will not consider eran equal t th queen. Neither will he allow his Queen, Jemima be dishonored ether by ‘deeds or words, Any dishonour to her wil hit hin “Uke the ash ofa hip THis sense of duty to bis children too 4 equally noteworthy. He tells ‘Orinda, “Your cidren ane beutifl,But they are fury crea 1 hace Scena ral ones. A oor wil ot ssp Hen ut of they of the aries". ‘The Shrevwdest of All ‘The King knows the nature ofall his ministers extremely well, He has found Lysistrata knowledgeable, sincere and hard working: Amanda fs realistic, rave and ready to lake on any male member of the Cabinet ‘who tries fo bully her. He expect to get their support. and gets it, except 4m the all important tussle with the Cabinet over the powers of the ‘monarch. We find atthe end af the play, Lysistrata fcling sorry thatthe King is not going to become a democratic leader and support her fight against Bresiges Linifed. The shrewdness with which the King hanes BBoanerges is 9 effective thatthe republicans start admiring the monarch ‘asa strong man”. Hoanerges, later expresses some of te opinions ofthe King, verbatim in hi speech before the Cabinet. And Magnus is quit Conscious about what he has done to Bosnerges, He els his Queen, "No Tarce not tamed him. T have tight hom how ta behave. ae t otal hy beginars”. The thoroughly practical Amanda admits of the shrewdness fof the King when she says: "Joe franke when I want to find out what is upto, Ihave fo come and ask your Majesty". Certainly Magnus mus bbe shrevider than Proteus. The King’s skill in tackling the sharp ani scheming Orithia is admirable He realizes how his mistress spread Fumours abou the possiblity of his marrying her When Orinthin consi herself rose and the Queen a cabbage, Magrias remarks that the eabb i more wseful. Whan she bluntly asks him to divorce his Queen a marry her the King seplis "we are only fo clldren at play aed you mo be content to be my gue i fry lad. He flaters her to please herb {e-aleulation of Proteus. Yes, as Proteus putt the King hs stolen he “cof inn com is hand aod plays it epansi him. Stlen or note Sng haw ate shrewdly and the srs ong thers, rote, cptulat before that Hrgly shwewdness, 5 Tact No other character ofthe play shows the tctfulnes of King Magn sm even Proteus The tact he shows In handling Bomnergen spy ‘oder The King notcesDonnergers Ginespacal blwrout of nok ‘sing up on his entry and tactfully aaks him “won't you at downs" area replies “tam iting down Then comes he maser sche eh he King“ had at note it agi me Foc of nn Srey, even Se oot, Bonnerges learn a lesson Ester ring the conwenaton te Hog clevery induces Boanerges to narrate his own lowly birth This os ofthe medicine of self eaeation administers to Bosnerges, which ics him more realistic about his self estimate The Rings ace St Ornthia tan excelent leston in tac bhavions. rome of in he to Kk you sometime hen yore spec sggroeton batt st hi wait a Weck fr an audience. But se the King's comment we sill owe America the old war debt...No you wouleirt iy deer, ip would be crawling evil to him, a0 Tamm going to be" Sl te sen Mr. Vanhattan is ing on shaking hande with ihe queen ucts, eg the King remarla very cooly hat on arth the mater hp lation? You ae shaking her Majesty's rng off Deftiely King Magnes + King of tactfl behaviour too. EF yng Noe Stands for His Rights, to Protect the Nation Nis championing the cause of monarchy is not motivated by an shinee. He has only the interest of is county in ane tat pape hve made’ mvkery of democracy On oe el te tenment has to bow to the presses of money power ie tet Unite ‘On the other side the parliamentary tember ae have to cater to the whims and fancies ofthe wneaghtenet Sandwiched between the two, the government hast olan & ‘hich does not lad toa bight fiture forthe country. In ach 31 the duty f the monarch to save the country fom gong fo Fr that, the King should have real power he shou ot Eee he nthe hands ofthe Cabinet This is why Magnus want to excise Superbly Outwits Proteus The real smartness of Maggs found in the way in which he out Proteus, the Prime Minister. Among the ministers Proteus isthe sh land he is able to understand how the King encourages the squab famong the ministers and sidetracks them from the main esue. But hhe can not see the depth ofthe King's mind. Proteus's admiting, nfs Iai not foresee tis turn of bent. T reckoned without your Mae “character” ie the greatest tute to the shecwdness of the King, The plan of abdicating and entering politics as a commoner has defested of, ate;that things that are bad do not tempt we says he is afraid of coming out of his pigsty he proper place for me”. Again to her “.. half the my perfectly polished boots on the cabinet and the the Cabinet wipe its muddy boots on mie. The crisis se things for the good of ts to put an end to the po ts to keep his powers, as fa t the Cabinet squabbles over ore| pi spt away from their main track. is sees through the plans of the ling that even his usual suppor regard your as a statesman whose mouth was the most efficient part of h o the Cabinet after the offer of abdication: “You are looking on me... as ready to support him, he pretends of trumps against the Cabinet. The King} anf {that he will abdicate, give up his aristocratic titles and stand fit the outcome of a cultured man of sound erudition, Alas he hac s ‘Seeing the greater danger the new situation poses, Proteus accep'f ond We find in King Magnus, an eloquent speaker. Not only in the long -h he makes before the Cabinet in Act I, but also in his conversation. jest character of the play, too, is King Magnus. His wifhis felicity is clear. He chooses words appropriately, uses alliteration yy, throughout, contributing to most of the elite co1 len Boanerges says he is going to say things which government. The long speech he makes, defending the useful role of monarchy, is a lesson in persuasive eloquence. When he tells the ‘Responsibilities which would break your back may still be borne on s shoulders. But he must be a king, not puppet”, even Proteus may feseen a valid point. And as the King ends his speech with the words, you play your last card and destroy me, to consider where you ‘Think once, think twice, for your danger is, not that I may ut your success is certain if you insist”. Both the women of the t and Balbus approve of the speech. One calls it splendid. Otheris compromising, spi macy, his knowledge of ry, all are to be seen in the long speech, ing is a master in the art of oration. One has to admit that the A Realist His realistic approach to the various problems of life shows hov} Practical minded he is, Magnus knows the limitation under which a Britis monarch works. Though he doesn't accept the view that he is an Indi rubber stamp, he knows he has to sign the papers put up before him the Cabinet. However, he believes that the veto power he has, ceremonial on most occasions, can be beneficial to the country sometimé When Mike, the brother of Balbus, is about to be included in Cabinet the King put his of the 'siness, Joe”, the King in his lly my dear Lysistrata, You must itual spluttering becomes too opposition he bows to their pressure. However, he does not offer to what they want. The practical man in him, urges him to extend a coun threat to the Cabinet. There is nothin; ig in the drama to say that the Kin} hhas really woanted to abdicate and stand as a candidate from the “ri borough of Windsor”. It appears only a threat, which, he very well knows} will make the Cabinet change their opinion. The realist that he knows every one of his ministers and how each, one’s mind works. will not take the risk of facing another election, with the King in di opposition. And things turn out as King Magnus expects. The Kitt realism is found in his attitude to his mistress too. He goes to her wh “What 2. JOSEPH PROTEUS, THE PRIME MINISTER ph Proteus is a typical Prime Minister king quality in him is the skill he shows ike his Cabhe THE APPLE CART JIARACTERS IN THE APPLE CART to toe the line, most sn wi cs ag et, Ono '& Nicobar disagrees and says: “I don’t see ts hen has le aan ies see fact rele take my job and lead the party ourself" The thence Natural Leader As a Prime Minister ie is the leader of the team and as such he wields lot of power But he makes each one of his cabinet members fel that he oF she fs important. See, what he tes about his Cabinet "There snot man of woman here whose job could do a5 well as they do it pb te fc am the Prime Minister for the same reason that all Prime Ministers have ff signation he often flings up, again, is of Es. ee OTe ei -—rrsdh—LFrLr characteristic English understatement in it, People will like to be led bypatens to resign, It is his way of tackling Boane pec, wae oe ne Such a leader. And we find almost all the members of the Cabinet showing hs effort. Later we find that Boanerges has chenged his goes Confidence in him, Uhough they find fault with some of the traits in hi nt reeamergts has changed his opinion at character. tinatum”. When Proteus finds that his ministers; Ctasces ang ween . agtsed of jobbery and bungling he bullies even King Magnus, ee ie King “If you ty to mre hat ssperty @ constitutional question eters enough for us to throw the mud ba: il ay ust Simply tat you ae are hiner and els el ae 8 lertne™. As an experiene politician, Proteus knows some off 5 are likely to be bunglers and jobbers. But the sccasere src to ta When Proteus threatens to resign protesting against Boanerge' apparent support for the King most of the male members, in a sudde Spontaneous reaction, shout not to do so. They have confidence in him When he insists that he will resign, Crassus says, “But not at such moment. Don’t let us swap horses when crossing a stream”. Crass Knows that in a crisis, Proteus is the natural leader. We find all of ministers agreeing with his plan of forwarding an ultimatum to the Kin If the King does not sign it, the Cabinet will resign and go to the count and tell that itis for the people to decide whether they support Monarchy ‘or Democracy, The Cabinet is happy to see the plan work, at least unt the King upsets the plan. Colleagues have complete confidence in his when a crisis arises. When Proteus walks out angry, or pretending to § angry, at Amanda's irritating comment, none of the ministers kno what to do, Balbus thinks Amanda has spoiled their effort to checkm4Bp be ruth the King by making Proteus walkout. Nicobar asks, “What are we to dire the = too, On one occasion when he re o defend hs ministers now? that’s what I want to know”. Well, in the absence of Proteus, nolMBSt down, Leave this to me”. Still Ball oe him, Proteus shouts, iE — Put in a word in between in the cabinet knows what to do. At the same time Crassus says: “Tolle Proteus very brashly tells Balbus, "Yon shut up, Bert”. The f Fieis,he knows some ofthe actions of his ministers are undcroncieie it easy friends. Joe knows what he is about”. Really they have confide i Paces and his ability to stand upto the King. When King Magrf that accusers ca explodes the bombshell by announcing his intention to abdicate, ageijity 'sers can be silenced only by counter accusing in a fiercer wwe find all of the ministers looking up to Proteus to react to it. First ti Sir iport the view of Proteus that the King cannot abdicate. When King insists on his plan, Proteus changes his view and tells the Kingg gue that you are right; that you are taking the only course open to youlitheckmating the King At this the ministers too, following the leader, change their views. Tigbakes the Cabinet stand united over th eee Aaa hat the opinion of Proteus isthe opinion ofthe Cabinet. There ge. Stll he finds the ministers often getting nolved panes ech natural leadership qualities in him, that all of the ministers gMMMirfights forgetting their main objective. Then tis Proteee wht atts ready to be led by him ds them that they are often sidetracked by the King and they lene poring the, Protur wes some pl the Ring “You ea hat Sir your one supporter he Cabin Ents ong for he’ Thoagh tows pseata manages her department prety well he S area eon tency, a bullying tac. to gether suppor in the ulteserae PreeTHE APPLE CART | cH aRACTERS IN THE APPLE CART 101 or dane te lock beter ead if you can”: | Lak of Foresight CS i Clee Shrewd though he is he doesn’t foresee the final move of the clever King. Proteus admits this when he tells: “But I ought to have foreseen it... T have reckoned without your Majesty's character.” But as Proteus himself says, it being the most logical solution he thinks it the least possible solution. Also we have to realize that Proteus is not a genius as King Magnus is. The greatest tribute to his character comes from King Magnus, He tells Orinthia, “Proteus 18 a clever fellow, even on occasion a fine fellow” 3. BOANERGES, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE William Boanerges is the President of the Board of Trade, the newest minister, has inducted into the Cabinet. It is possible Shaw models him ater John Burns, a labour leader, who has served in the Cabinet of Ramsay. MacDonald, the Labour Prime Minister. A Pompous and Conceited Man jose are statements loaded with wit and wisdom, And Proteus dows when to say itand where to say it with remarkable effect. Definitely His Practical Approach good pol cal leader he has practical ways of dealing with He knows that always there will be some who are selfish, and jsing in corrupt practice. But in a democratic government the Prime ster has 2 duty to defend his colleagues and the party's programme tive way. He knows that Crassus is a jobber, and Balbus He defends them in the most practical way by counter f the accusers. That is the only practical way to defend them es is inducted into the ministry because he is a labour leader; the ‘of the workers is needed. Also the interests of companies like the cahayes Lined are to be protected, if the party is to exist. We find him willing to go and have lunch at their expense telling, “let us spoil the Egyphans’. He knows that all democratic elections are not just. When lerges asks, “Is that all you know about electioneering in England’, roteus replies “if you can't find the extras, you must put up with straight s/s Prime Minister he knows that in real life, things, far from the |, do happen. And he feels there is nothing wrong in doing like a an when one is in Rome. He also knows politics is the art of the He has risen from humble circumstances. He himself tells about it to King Magnus. He was “picked up by a policeman at the foot of Captain Coram’s statue and adopted by the policeman’s grandmother”. It is natural that such people, when they rise to power grow pompous and conceites, Shaw describes him in the stage direction as “heavily built and aggressively assertive”. As he waits in the palace in the worker's uniform for an audience with the King, he grows impatient and goes to the King’s Secretary Sempronius and pours out his anger. He does not have the manners to greet the secretary and he realizes this only when Sempronius greets him politely. He is too new to the palace to realize that he should ave gone straight to the secretary, instead of waiting in an anteroom. Fompously he quotes a saying, the wrong way, and Sempronius corrects him. When the King comes in he does not even stand up in courtesy and the irony of King’s asking him to sit down does not make him realize his impoliteness. Later also, when the King, still in an ironical way, asks his Fermission to sit, Boanerges fails to see the irony and replies “Oh. Sit m, man, sit down, You are in your own house” Il-mannered, Uncultured and Vain His bad manners are born partly out of ignorance and partly out of is own conceited self-estimate. As the King says he has watched with terest his rise in politics, Boanerges beams vain-gloriously and feels inself great. He says he is going to tell certain things to the King which have never been said to a King before’. All this is just to show off his jwwly acquired power as the Cabinet Minister. The King ignores all the jinity and conceit displayed by the new minister and as a consequence ‘anerges gets a good opinion about the King. He is greatly pleased at A Person of Conviction + King Magnus firmly believes in his views, of the usefulness of the monarchy, Proteus is convinced of the harm Monarchy can bring to 1c) He clearly sees the limitation of democracy where the monarch straight to the public and enlightens them of the real happenings behind the glorious facade of democracy. Some amount of corruption or, | ustice will be found anywhere. But democracy has brought in happiness to large number of people of England, the working class. He is not! thered about the long term evil arising out of encouraging consumer Gustries a5 long, as it keeps the working class happy and contented at the present. Perhaps, he is unable to realize those darker possibilities which King Magnus foresees. But he thinks only of the immediate present and the need of keeping the vote bank behind the party. As a politician he is, right. '‘rite arrce cant [OURACTERS IN THE APPLE CART being introduced to Princess Alice but he misses the irony in the words of the Princess, “Are you the great Mr. Roanerges” and “Why €o you wear such awful clothes... Teannot go out walking with you in that After the audience with the King he tells quite vainly to Sempronius, “Well, [pulled Magnus through it pretty well”, not realizing that he cut a sorry figure of an ill mannered and uncultured person before the King When the cabinet ministers assemble they laugh at his: dress, and he tums to them like a baited bear ready to pick up a tif with them. On Proteus asking him how the interview was, he replies “You leave the King fo me. T know how to handle these last three months there'd have been no crisis”. During the Cabinet meeting he considers himself someone very important and shouts "Order fs he hastily rises and ay Order” whenever the discussions deviate into squabbling. On one occasion ards the end of the play we find Bonner ges seen when the squabbling intensifies Boanerges pompously tells "I protest If*"a cabinet of sheep for moving fonseed caer say; le us be dignified. All this Joe and Bil and Nick and Lisa... Thefbe, as Proteus asks him whether he hac any better suggestion he ates Prime Minister is the Prime Minister, he int Joc”. But he forget that hef!4on' think T have any at the spur of the moment Ton eae es hhas addressed Nicobar “Nick”, and that he cannot pronounce the namelitg’s abdication offer is accepted by the cabinet, Boanerges ines Ere eee fstorian voice” starts singing a farewell song And finally Cher wha y s 'Piine Minister leaves the scene after tearing off the ultimatum ne (ne ‘A Republican and Labour Leader ips his hat and ina pretentiously dignified manner walle oe al He is a republican and he declares this fact proudly, He has been fc funny enough to couse laughter Corny Boao ese labourer and he is proud of that fact too. He goes to the palace in thfpat comic chatectors of She worker's uniform just to show how proud he is to wear that. He tell. qrcaticne Princess Alice “oT have earned my bread with my hands... Tam 3) skilled mechanic” showing off his republican leaning. joanerges is too simple minded a bereaagi - Character to be a successful ian. He is well intentioned and honest. We find him refusing to ho A Plain Man, But a Great Orator a fusing to In dress, manners and speech Boanerges is a simple plain man. Bu! lunch at the expense of Breakages Limited. At the same time he kee he is a good orator and he is extremely popular with the labourers. itical ambitions. When he listens to the King telling that he is tha lable person to lead the country, if it becomes a republic, he starts describes to Magnus how he gets their support. He will tell them, "Y are supreme.... Exercise your vote intelligently by voting for me’ tng on the ies. As Prime Miser Doe eee sts Toshow any unhappiness overt He show an eee ne he sre Ubi for hm, He bone soot hs ay fo ott Jacobabin Conny hrncterne aeays ieee san ea Amanda admits of hie speaking skill by mentioning him as the “graifhine Minioter. Later when King offers to abdicate, ‘he supports the idea, sn fe nihecy the workers of the need of voting is eee oo se aeness and amply i ot appreciated PY bly hoping to become the President of the Republic of England Folleagues. Even the magnanimous King Magnus kids with him, thoug le Total Impression ee ari ncr ing tucceeds in making im Rf: Th ftal impression we get of Bosnerges is that of plain blunt man a ee eating, forward some of his ideas among, the Cabindceted and pompous, proud of ho werking ches Exckeoen at mouthpiece in putting, forwa ditions of becoming a strong leader of the ceuntey, 4. NICOBAR, THE FOREIGN SECRETARY Nicobar, the Foreign Secretary, is proud of his aristocratic background believes in the aristocratic traditions, Seeing the new Minister of idiculous, Then, himself an upstart, he complains of the upstarts employs Js the palace. As Pamphilius tells the ministers that Princess Alice is yeatly impressed by the President, they roar into a laughter. The simple eanerges in his innocence does not realize the irony of it, and it makes im, all the more, the laughing stock of all. His pronouncing the name of Ii Power Ministress General as Lysis Traitor is surely laughter producing r. Boanerges echoes the opinion of te King, almost verbatim, when \chihg his colleagues backward with Joe.” members ‘A Comic Figure erges appears as a comic figure contibuty Throughout the play Bonners app “ tome tarhable The newly append cabinet minister going o the pal for en atdvence with the Keng, in the uniform of & worker itself ihon THE APPLE Camn|OARACTERS IN THE APPLE CART 109 cone has “to put his foot down and stop i'"#kout is pre-planned. This tickles the humorous vein in Pliny and he franks ex Bu te not dona one eo neneo you dint arrange Hw him, Mandy; di you” St agen, when treedom appears to be the freedom, big money gets in exploiting th|ianda vitreously attacks Mike's boozing, the good natured Pliny general public, Just to prove that the government has done glorious thing "ents “Mike never knows when to stop” and removes the acidity of the e\ample he puts forward isthe “Racing motor boats and cars. gfe attack, finest on earth and all individually designed” and the “chocolate creamsifiis Pacifying Influence of Gateshead and Middlesborough. Rude to Others He is very rude to Boanerges who turns up in the worker's uniform He asks insultingly, “Who do you think you are?” He indulges in a dij at the King, in bad taste, when he says “We haven't the royal advantagd that you enjoy, that the more ladies take away your character the bet] the people like you”. When the King announces his plans to cont: elections he shouts loudly “Humbug”. His rude behaviour is born out d lack of culture. 7. PLINY, THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER Pliny, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is portrayed as a culture person, of polished and mild manners, He never displeases anyone by Whenever the discussions turn sour, Pliny tries to ease the situation fy utting in some comment. When he finds the Prime Minister with his ves on edge, he has a pacifying word to tell him “Steady, Prime inister, You are overwrought”. Proteus takes it in the right spirit and pies that the tension is “enough to drive a man mad”. Then we see indy”. Later when Proteus threatens to resign, it is the voice of Pliny fétis heard first “No, don’t do that Joe”. It has a soothing effect on him, Prainly. Still later when Amanda suggests, ludicrously that the English prour-maid is one of the achievements of democracy he mildly roaches her telling “Now Mandy, Mandy! None of your triviality” lr, as the King agrees to surrender, just to remove all bitterness he ps “You are a gentleman, Sir. We shan’t rub it in, you know”. As Nords or deeds, When others squabble continually he remains dignifiedfeus bluntly tells the King that he wants a “dumb king”, to seften the aut aloof Further, when matters tur sour he puts in his efforts to improv, the goed natured Pliny ndde “A conetnitonel hang” Whe eng the simiation, often bringing in litle humour. Even when others gdlftemis complains of the degradation of the king's position, again, jon agitated or lose their temper his sophistication makes him remain dignifieip onsole him he says “That is, the constitution; you know” Saal ace and cool. peything tums out into nought, the good man in Pliny wants to go out a p, after having Pacing aa to the King. “Well, I am glad that in ned... Never mind their temper out of He has a good sense of humour and as a result he is able to enjoy Send em a ee fun in a detached way. When cruder ministers are bear-baiting Boanerg who is in his worker's uniform, Pliny goes near him, fingers the bloud4 and asks “Where did you buy it Bill?” Definitely there is no gall in th question, but he enjoys the fun of seeing the President of the Board of Tr attending his frst cabinet meeting in a worker's uniform. When the baidfimit. When Balbus is rude and Proteus blunt nit ne King, Pliny has Boanerges asks whether his colleagues consider the palace a police offic the jovial Pliny says “The third degree is not unknown in this palace, m) boy”. When other ministers squabble over the desirability of a change ih leadership, see what amusing remark he makes: “Now, boys be good, can’t make a new Cabinet before Magnus comes in”. When Nicobar saysf that Sempronius starts all his articles with one phrase, Pliny adds “Thal is his trade mark, singularly enough” and chuckles enjoying Nicobar'} comment. Again when Lysistrata hints of the unholy friendship between} Nicobar and Crassus, Pliny applauds her and laughs loudly. Still later w find Proteus enraged at Amanda's remark going out of the Cabine meeting. Lysistrata tells that Proteus does all these on purpose, and 8. LYSISTRATA, THE POWER MISTRESS ROYAL Lysistrata the Power Mistress Royal, as portrayed in the play, is a fts sincere, sensible and hard-working socialist who can not tolerate P! fonsense. She considers it her duty to put in her best in the serviceno g ‘THE APPLE CARI] CHARACTERS IN THE APPLE CART s of the country. But sometimes she becomes sentimental, especially whe frustrated. An Intellectual Minister her department. She, in her turn is full of appreciation for the King toy When the King declares his intention to abdicate, she says “Sit. | have sod by you as far as I dared. Don’t throw me over. You must not abdicate”. And as she realizes the prospect of the King coming to the Parliament as a commoner, she feels that Magnus can be more efficient 45 a Parliamentary Leader of a party. When other ministers are calling him a hypocrite over that, she says “I wish Your Majesty every success and “Iam delighted. You will fight Breakages for me”. Again at the end of the play, when the storm of the ultimatum is blown over, she tells the King with tearful eyes, “But I am heartbroken at your not coming into the Fouse....". Lysistrata and King Magnus knows each other as two intellectuals who know the problems of the country. Ideologically no other minister of the Cabinet is as close to the King as she is. A True Socialist She is perhaps the only true socialist among th: rue socialist among the ministers. We find even the labour leader, Boanerges, patronisingly talking of the workers and how they can be hoodwinked. But she wants to sée that the maximum fod reaches the maximum people. She cannot approve the companies 1 Breaages Limited and the Petlond Forth Syndigne Ohe career a the way these companies “make bilions., at the peoples cree eae "proaches Crassus for helping his uncle's compan coal ‘so she is upset over her inability to do all she wenn ®'the country. Her good intention plans are defeated by hich is a “monster with its millions and ts inevery pie”: She and perhaps, Pliny too. 1 allegations of corruption of malpract Stands for Her Rights hen he ine ht nds ch vite tng cee sgt a st al wh he cline with ne Pc laste neigh le "Yu mind Foe ae Tea etn he aaa gt Peak ne es! Be HE he tart fest olny agar ernie ne foe mirononcs Reet enema el mies ahi Proteus, the Prime Minister, must have noted her intellectual qualitis to choose her to be the minister in charge of Power. She does not have the cunning needs to become a typical politician. She has neither th sense of humour and histrionic ability of an Amanda nor the publi speaking skill of a Boanerges. But what she lacks in such politician qualities is more than compensated by her intellectual accomplishmens She has been a school teacher before, a fact, which she herself proual] tells Nicobar when he tries to bully her. Even the King is aware of he| erudition and he refers to her the abdication of Charles the Fifth. And sh replies “Oh! Charles the Fifth be—be bothered! he is not good enough’ As an intellectual she has put in hard work and shoulders. all he responsibilities as the Minister of Power. She has come to the righ| conclusions about what is to be done to make her department mo effective. She tells the Cabinet “I have to organize and administer all Ue motor power in the country for the good of the country... I do it.” Sh has planned to develop power in more advanced ways. She says “I hav to harness the wind and the tides .....". This idea of getting power fros renewable sources like the wind and tides is definitely a futuristic ide that strikes an intellectual. Also, very shrewdly she realizes how to red the national expenditure by cutting down unwarranted national repui bill that “runs up to hundreds of millions”. She also realizes how t powerful rich companies like Breakages Limited suppress new inventio that help the country. loit the country. fo, in the service Breakages Limited \ewspapers and its fingers are the ministers against whom. ices are levelled. When Proteus rushes out of the cabinet meeting, seemingly ena by Amanda's joke, Lysistrata is shrewd enough to know that the wal is rather pre-planned. She says ”...Joe's rages are invariably calculated, and "He is settling the whole business with the King behind our backs' Po: Perhaps the best tribute to het Amanda earnestly wishes “If only I had her brains and education”. ¥ ‘Lysistrata is the most intellectual of the women characters in The App Cart. Good Rapport with the King She, of all the ministers, has the best rapport with the King, Magnus, the shrewd man that he is, has understood the sterling qual of this sincere minister. Magnus tells Orinthia, about Lysistrata “...1 very much interested in her department. Her devotion to it gives us to of endless interest”. It is clear Magnus admires her sincere devotion. ‘THE APPLE CAKl] CHARACTERS IN THE APPLE CART m of the country. But sometimes she becomes sentimental, especially w! her department. She, in her turn is full of appreciation for the King too frustrated When the King declares his intention to abdicate, she says “Sir. I have stood by you as far as I dared. Don’t throw me over. You must not abdicate”. And as she realizes the prospect of the King coming to the parliament as a commoner, she feels that Magnus can be more efficient 4s a Parliamentary Leader of a party. When other ministers are calling him a hypocrite over that, she says “I wish Your Majesty every success” ind “Iam delighted. You will fight Breakages for me”. Again at the end oi the play, when the storm of the ultimatum is blown over, she tells the King with tearful eyes, “But I am heartbroken at your not coming into the House....". Lysistrata and King Magnus knows each other as two ‘stellectuals who know the problems of the country, Ideologically no wher minister of the Cabinet is as close to the King as she is. ATrue Socialist An Intellectual Minister Proteus, the Prime Minister, must have noted her intellectual quali to choose her to be the minister in charge of Power. She does not ha the cunning needs to become a typical politician. She has neither sense of humour and histrionic ability of an Amanda nor the pul speaking, skill of a Boanerges. But what she lacks in such politician qualities is more than compensated by her intellectual accomplish She has been a school teacher before, a fact, which she herself prow: \ells Nicobar when he tries to bully her. Even the King is aware of ‘erudition and he refers to her the abdication of Charles the Fifth. And replies “Oh! Charles the Fifth be—be bothered! he is not good enough’ ‘As an intellectual she has put in hard work and shoulders all responsibilities as the Minister of Power, She has come to the conclusions about what is to be done to make her department ‘effective. She tells the Cabinet “I have to organize and administer all motor power in the country for the good of the country _ I do it. has planned to develop power in more advanced ways She says “I to harness the wind and the tides .....”. This idea of getting power fr renewable sources like the wind and tides is definitely a futuristic that strikes an intellectual. Also, very shrewdly she realizes how to the national expenditure by cutting down unwarranted national rep bill that “runs up to hundreds of millions” She also realizes how powerful rich companies like Breakages Limited suppress new invent that help the country, When Proteus rushes out of the cabinet meeting, seemingly ena) by Amanda's joke, Lysistrata is shrewd enough to know that the wal is rather pre-planned. She says "..Joe's rages are invariably calculated. and “He is settling the whole business with the King behind our bac Possibly she is the shrewclest in the Cabinet except the Prime Mini Perhaps the best tribute to her intellectual qualities comes from Ama Amanda earnestly wishes “If only I had her brains and education’ Lysistrata is the most intellectual of the women characters in The Cart Good Rapport with the King She, of all the ministers, has the best rapport with the King, K Magnus, the shrewd man that he is, has understood the sterling qua of this sincere minister. Magnus tells Orinthia, about Lysistrata "1 very much interested in her department. Her devotion to it gives us of endless interest”. It is clear Magnus admires her sincere devotioa She is perhaps the only true socialist among the ministers. We find even the labour leader, Boanerges, patronisingly talking of the workers und how they can be hoodwinked. But she wants to see that the maximum pod reaches the maximum people. She cannot approve the companies ‘ke Breakages Limited and the Pentland Forth Syndicate. She cannot accept te way these companies “make billions..., at the people's expense”. She proaches Crassus for helping his uncle's company exploit the country. Ako she is upset over her inability to do all she wants to, in the service «the country, Her good intention plans are defeated by Breakages Limited hich is a “monster with its millions and its newspapers and its fingers every pie”. She and perhaps, Pliny too, are the ministers against whom ® allegations of corruption or malpractices are levelled inds for Her Rights When the Prime Minister finds fault with her for being close with the King, she is rather vehement in asserting her right telling, “You mind ar own business, Joe”. She knows she has the constitutional right to the King, To emphasize this point she asks the King “Have | that reht Sir, or haven't 17” When the King accepts her right she turns to jroteus and tells “You hear that, Joe?” When Boanerges mispronounces Ss name poking fun at her, in typical school mistress fashion, she tells km “Certainly not Bill”, and pronounces it correctly for his edification A Sentimental Person She is too sentimental to be an effective minister a others. We find her getting hurt when Proteus fin "ning late for the Cabinet meeting. Nicobar has not = when he tclls Proteus, “ ind often gets hurt ids fault with her for ted this weakness in ‘What do you go provoking Lizzie for likeTHE APPLE CART | caaRACTERS IN THE APPLE CART 3. AMANDA POSTLETHWAITE, THE POST MISTRESS GENERAL Amanda, the Postmistress General is a powerful and rather manly haracter. She turns up in a man’s uniform for the Cabinet meeting Though she lacks the knowledge and intelligence of a Lysistrata, or the eductive charm of an Orinthia, she is a very interesting, and perhaps, an jimusing character. Clever in her own way, she holds the attention of the juidience by her sense of humour, her silly remarks and actions, her iiticisms and the courage with which she stands up to any man in the rinistry. Humorous Person When Boanerges shouts “order, order” to her, what she does is to raft.2 kiss to him just to the amusement of all. When ministers crate ating forward various achievements of the government wher mance ree te English pariour-matd. She wing al the ternational Benecs the rst ecTivialty Of the suxgestion certainly contributes ae ee noe hive won anak wien. the King says he ms beaten, Bounerges thor (an Re cncate Peccrnisd fits Seizing = fanewel coupler oe teat ay fg rmanda bursts into uncontrollable nughter, been aches eo dignified es te tuple hard not to laugh loudly: When Prego seriously fademare gppurboe,of the meeting Amanda tage fe tere Minister's ase Prete Once for al” and the wholesome laughs. This nen Net S848 a walkout but the fan gonseneany fring’ arnt asks what they awe to do she suger st ty near toa joke i when Proteus tll that his people has cane eee Jeti movements Of a music conductor, rea Lysistrata retorts, “/ wish they had stayed there”, But even there, it is more xd other ministers do not appreciate it the die S Rirp, than Joke. No, she does not possess the sense of humour which the ff pe roaring with laughter Boasti Gee King or Amanda often displays. With a little sense of humour in her, she she tells the group, “that, wit Hey awe Been more popular among her colleapues as eal oe ene the public Overall Picture Sow she has a temper Ht by a question fom Nicobae she it's no use trying to browbeat me. 1 begin lie as a school hog an owt ay main this Cant On one oxcaion when Proteus sharply questions her about her rejoinder, she firmly repeal it and elaborates, “said which. which man sant ie balnecle Ae te end of Act 1 when Proteus asks her to lanch with hin, she curtiy says, Still angry with him “Don't speak to me” and rushes out, Often ber sentimentalism is that of an ordinary woman, When the conflict between the King and the Parliament is at ts height, hurt by the tension of situation, she says “Oh, for god's sake, sipn, Sir. Thesis torture to me ‘She makes a pretty long speech describing her heiplessnest in conteolling Breakages Limted and is choked by emotion brenko down, At the end ef the play too we find the sentimentalism in her getting the better of hea Bidding good bye to the King, tears come to her eyes ated the Ring ve Amanda have to console her Unpopular Minister : Lacks Sense of Humour Despite all her efficiency in her work and sincerity she is not a popular gaggiter She herself says she is shot at twice by “inventors driventerecy= That means she has not succeeded in winning over those inventors «hoes been championing, She doesn’t have the cunning of ea is. In the Cabinet too she is not that popular. Perhaps, ths Hao because she does not display any sense of humour, There one Setance in this hilarious play, where one finds her enjoying ajoke, Nether sone coe mttbute any. The only occasion we find her teling something feeraceful Amanda tells him “It yo , mt Provoke cee pant constituency within two! mocte” And "uption of how she has made Semon “nin dog spon PE Ca Las, remain te fe eh of how the has made yoni sfficin. in doing a wespansible ob. She docs So ees rfast manda: rihten up the surroundings nF ase tiara tteams with which Orinthia rises to her real Renan eee she does not show the oe of emlens eby whistling one or two bars of the National Anthem. And at the end a the play to console the sorrow stricken Lysistrata, she says "Come hoy with me dear Twill sing to you until you can't help laughing” Ona these ccasions we find the sense of humour in Amanda working contributing (0 the fun of the play. It struc though, on some orcasioy| hher humour and splattering i a bit out of place Her Insight into People and Matters Amanda is person of deep insight. She has evaluated Boanergs| correctly and calls hit a “boob” She relizes Lysstata’s good quit ‘more than many others. She says if she has Lizzie's intelligence ani Knowledge, she has been someone like Qucen Elizabeth. She realize the good qualiues of the King and she appreciates him very much, St tells him “You and Tare a pair Si”. Later ahe says, that it willbe ava fun’ to have the King inthe parliament. In her understanding of Protea and the way his mind works, Amanda exces, When Proteus walks ou fenrages by her remarks she remains calm, though Boanerges and som bothers are perturied. She knows that Proteus has so many ticks up Sleeve. She says, “Joo can always depend on one or others of us saying Something thet will give him an eacuse to fly out”. She appears to kaon] the King’s prea’ very well That is why she splatters when Lia remarks "Your Majesty's private affairs do not concern us, in any ase The evil doings of Breakage, the drunkenness of Mike and all sch a known to her Witty Too ‘Along with the sense of humour she displays inthe play, her wi to0. When Boanerges asks “where's the joke I dont see it" het retort really witty "IT you could see the joke, Bi, you will not be the gres popular orator you are”. When Proteus pretends to be a frank man ‘Asnanda has something equally wity. "Joe Frank! When I want to fini ‘oat what he is upto I have to comes and ask your Majesty”. Perhaps, the Seittiest of her remarks comes out when the Ring addresses her, jovial ts Your Majerty and asks whether the “Queen” should not support te King. She replies "Sorry Si, but there isnt room for two monarchs in He realm, Tam against you on principle because the talent for mimicry ist hereditary” A Manly Woman Not only the uniform she wears but in her behaviour also, Amand |s manly. Shes ready to stand upto any one in the ministry. To the Pri Minister who i apitated over Llzzi's remarks, she says with authori ‘Come Joe. Don't make a scene. You asked for it you know”. She hans fon 10 Pliny, a chair to siton, even ikea chivalrous man helping lay Wvien she realizes that ministers has enough diversion, squabbling, she hea sper Prime Minister, asks: "Joe; dowt you think you Rave let ran hose long enough? What about the ullimatim” When she accuses Mike I booze, Balbus in a bullying tone asks her “Who says so?” She very sity, but femly, replies “1 do, dering”. The cool and deliberate reaction lows down Balbus. She tells how she manages to keep Breakages avay lm interfering in her department “No tse trying, to coax that lot lsmidate them: that is the way to handle them’. At times, when the lcason demands she can be really harsh too. When Proteus accuses that lnshas a desie tobe the Fest Lady of the Admiralty, she started to sey Jmcthing vulgar "You..." and suppresses the rest And we find the fing softening her up with his mild reproach. Sometimes her comments jeome out of place and inappropriate. As Proteus almost ends his stately lech of farewell to the King her remark "You wil be the Viar of Bray, fe"; upsets not only Proteus but almost all But then she apologizes for fe indeliccy. Supporter of Good Causes Her coming with the King for the meeting shows that she is close to fe King. She herself tells she has to goto the King for clarifications. She Jusn't approve of the way in which Breakages interfere with the jvernment departments. Whenever Lysistrata is in need of support jnanda extends it Though she is close to the King she doesnot support inthe matter ofthe ultimatum. In that case, as'a democratic minister, ‘stands with the rst of them, Powerfal Personality ‘The picture of Amanda is that of an efficent and powerful minister, istic enough to win the election, by hoak or erook and practical enough consluct her work independently. She has wit and humour, and shes Fane, and considerate: But she never allows herself to be bullied or by others. On the other hand, if occasions demands she can me Ute intimidating to others. ‘MINOR CHARACTERS 1. ORINTHIA, THE KING'S MISTRESS vintiais portrayed in the play as the romantically beautiful mistress ‘King Magnus. She appears only in the interlude, Though the character aha, does not appear to belong to the plot ofthe play, her relationship pa the King is Very much needed forthe intelligent understanding of "an, Magnus. cent Relationship With the King ‘er relationship with the King is far from the usual relationshipIARACTERS IN THE APPLE CART s Ht APPLE pravating”. At the end of the Merlude we find her indulging in a physical to prevent him from going for tea with the the only occasion where the otherwise cool King is ing his temper. The aggravating quality in her, possibly. ‘en her two husbands away. itable to be a Wife ng him that asks the King: “Magnus; shes hen the King asks w! us to avoid of good manners.” The King goes to her just for a from the business of the government. At the sam Orinthia: “We cannot talk to one another in public. to say to one another when we are alone together.’ Orinthia tries, she is not able to cross the line, the A Seductive Woman Her physical charm and her amusing qui King Magnus to keep her as his mistress. He tell. are lovely. You are divine. An addresses her often “ when she asks whether she is wort Magnus says "To me who love beaut is a very beautiful woman and the himself describes her, in the stage romantically dressed" hese show that O King cannot resist direction as “iAus ‘THE APPLE CART Foolishly Romantic Her desire to become the queen arises out of her almost foolish romanticism. She has too high an opinion about herself. See what she says to Magnus: “Give me a goddess’s work to do; and I will do it.I will even stoop to a queen's work...” She must be a person turned crazy with romantic notions, to think that she is placed so high that she has to come down to be the Queen of England. More than that, she is one of the most conceited persons in the play. She forgets that her two previous husbands ran away from her because of her impossible ways. And she is unable to realize what the King thinks of her. He knows she is amusing and he goes to her only for a change from the routine, But she considers hersel equal to the queen when she asks: “...You don’t mind placing me in a position that you do not think good enough for her?” She hasn't realized that the King will not allow any of his acts to hurt the feelings of the queen. Sometimes, in her overeagerness to dominate over King Magnus she becomes simply absurd. On one such occasion she asks the King, “why can you not be a real King, Magnus?”. On being asked she pours out all her ideas about a romantic King, whose only job, is to amuse himself |* all the time. She doesn’t have any love for real work. Work is vulgar for her; and enjoying the pleasures of life is divine. She says “If you wani deeds, yo to your men and women of action.... what are they for? thest dull slaves? To keep the streets swept for me.... Am I not worth it? Look into my eyes and tell the truth, Am I worth it or not?” Only a! person mad with— romantic fancy is likely to talk like that. In her obsession to be a queen, she has become completely blind to sce reality Overall Impression In Orinthia we find a society-woman with a passion for high luxurio living. She wants to enjoy life without shouldering any responsibilities life. She is unwilling to look into herself and arrive ata realistic evaluatic of herself. Though only a mistress keeps for an innocent diversion she jealous of the attention the King extends to the queen. She wants Kin; Magnus to neglect everything which he considers noble and spends hi time with her indulging in romantic trivialities. Ever ambitious o becoming the queen she is ready to indulge in secret schemes or seductiv tempting to fulfil her aim, And when frustration sets in she is capable. resorting to physical force to try to deviate the King from the path of hi duty. 2. VANHATTAN, THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR ‘The American Ambassador, Vanhattan provides good humour in ‘Apple Cart. He brings before the King a new proposal from the Presi of America, Bossfield. Vanhattan is so excited, that he wants to meet th CHARACTERS IN THE APPLE CART ns King even without a previous appointment for an audience. 0 sudience. As h fhe Boes on shaking hands with the queen for such a length of tine drag ie King has to put in a word hinting at the impropriety. His behagione paabort he is so excited that, the secret is not let out. However he ippointed at the King’s cynical viewin 0c out after telling “I look forward Hculously certain thatthe final decision will be im feony toasts of the importance of the matter and tells that the fis the King and queen Tg every reason to be happy about it. However, Venkat is "ger issue. He expects a doubtless a fem the Bea ing 08 the » from the British King. He is of the plan. However, he is ur of the merger. to presenting myself in court220 Dignified Person and traditions. She tells on have a greai meeting is to be held e Palace, must be the appropriate place. Sh when Vanhattan seeks an audience wit appointment, She even suggests to mak audience is given to him, in reply to his Simple and Straight Forward Person sane JS nor an equal to King Magnus in tact, shrewdness or skill EezkNE with people, When the proposal of American merger with Boe Empire comes out she exclaims, ‘She does not find the catch ‘She complains of many En; attraction “is the Horse Sh Duty Conscious She knows she is only icial deliberations. When Vanhat his excitement, she offers to with members comes for the meetin, 1g Without a previ wait for a week before i the consort of the King and has no pla: ttan hesitates to explain the reason draw if necessary. When the Cabi dress of Boanerges she rem what was very naughty of the Princess". At the end ofthe play King Magnus remains plunged in thought, in comes this aiecce } Tes ead him to dinner. To the King who is unwilling to go 1 ity “No dinner. Did anybody e ‘el now now! don’t be naughty} y" and the King with “a grimace of hel {o be led moay". Orinthia compares the Queen Immediately the King points out th ' to roses. Yes Queen Jemima is a ve wise man will pre useful con: THE APPLE CART : TEXT, PARAPHRASE AND ANNOTATIONS* SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS 1e dangers of the ignorant masses | WITH ANSWERS the nation. And | as the sentiment of sped by national songs at is an easy task. The power and thereby cause the scientific Or aoe The Apple Cart is a serious comedy where one finds various Shavian ideas discussed. Q 1. Discuss The Apple Cart as a play of ideas. We find in Lysistrata, a person who stands for the future. She appears | Or more advanced views than even the philosopher-King, Magnus. | 14 THe Apple Cart one finds the author as thinker and social He taining as a schoolteacher may ave made her UREN former, eee LIne Shes chnacous of the narrowness of naioaliom, which | Ans. Berard Shaw isa weiter of problem plays and of ideas. He we Qoosted up by patriote songs and the dislike for foreigners. But himself emphasizes this when he says: “I am not an ordinary playwright Nationalicm ‘ll not bring in Socal progress, For meaningful social general practice. I write plays withthe deliberate object of converting development, progress in Science and ‘Technology is needed. That is {'€ nation to my opinion”. He is interested in the problems of life, Sfmboliced in the development of powerhouses. As power houses need problems are connected with morals, heterosexual love, marriage, politics, run, mere nationalist slogans and nationalist sentiments will philosophy and every thing of importance one can think of. While these uch use. Modern technical skills is accompanied by managerial problems are given prime importance very often, he neglects the artistic Tange investments are necessary for development. These are fms of a play. He once said that he would not write even one line for to come in to England from America. This will happen only if the ee sake". He believed in “art for lif’s sake.” Shaw tried first novel national boundaries between the two countries vanish s 4 medium of his propaganda but finally found his genus agrecing Meat Comedy of Idese ‘Shaw is a super) salesman. With the subtlety and skill of a salesman presents his views in such a way that the public would accept it. His is to reform the society and in his zeal to reform, he subjects all cepted conventions and beliefs to his penetrating intellect. There is no lay of his where one or the other important problems of life is not iscussed. And those are problems of contemporary social life. Often his. icters indulge in long conversations putting forward diverse views ing the problems. When we find conflicts of will and emotions in inary plays, we find the conflict of ideas in his plays. This makes Ww a serious writer though almost always he disperses the comedic and ime times even the farcical in the plays making them interesting. In The 301‘THE AFPLECART | SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 302 pattern. A number of | words the elected represent ts such as political electorate. And the electorate corruption and nepotism among m N reform and the need of good manners in society. author has presented. through the characters are shocki but always supported by facts from contemporary life. ‘The Myth of Democracy lected Fepresentatives fe Miers ate seal parece happens 50 because tne wfPet in ever-boozing brother-in-law to the Cabi handing over a profitable relation of his; Amanda driv by her political acumen but five years or so, so nay er opponent in general election nolf. % Pltoeracy not De; mocracy wha delay and vulgar songs thf. The Cabinet of minster: a cin honest and sincere Lene "humilstiond)> Magnus, They use Ege waite anything democratic, according she is subjected to. Thus we Prone, eal nulers are the plier eB Sensation of wip Government” of democracy is exposed in the pl ocr Bee monster PUOCRCy. Lysistrata calle nea aes 2 the Play yer 2 "Mor ing through “its millions Monster” The influeneeae Monarchy and the Indiarubber Stamp Theory Shaw also questions the wisdom Me, Ce ey‘THE APPLE CART profits. They threaten honest ¢ Lysistrata with mob violence. democracy These are some of the ideas discussed Other ideas present world, the idea of one world, ide and elsewhere. Doubtlessly, one can ascertain, that The Apple Cart is a play of ideas, ideas great and small, and that ideas are of prime importance in the play. Q. 2. Discuss the plot construction in The Apple Cart bringing out its strength and weakness. Or Comment on Shaw’s skill in plot construction in The Apple Cart Or Bring out the strength and weakness of the structure of The Apple Cart. ‘Ans, Shaw is a great propagandist and all his plays remain the instruments of his propaganda. Often, in his plays, he discusses problems threadbare, questions the validity of age-old and established traditions, explodes the myth behind various beliefs and punctures humbug and snobbery found in all departments of life. As such his plays are plays of ideas rather than artistic plays. Not that his plays lack artistic qualities, but the emphasis is on selling his ideas to the public, in converting them sws. Naturally, the dramatic techniques he uses are those suitable fective selling of his ideas. They may not always agree with the canons of dramatic art. He is sacrificed, plot construction and risation if necessary, for the sake of making his play effective propaganda. However, in The Apple Cart one sees, one of Shaw’s well made plots. Its structure does not have most of the dramatic defects we find in a typi ian Play. 4 Follows the Aristotlian Principles of Unity * Aristotle wanted plays to have unities of time, place and action. Shave nas succeeded in keeping meticulously the first two unities. In the casg if action, some weakness may be found. In the conversation the two secretaries in the beginning, in the Interlude and in the [SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS Unity of Place [lie con ter pen Pitre Pin pao psc be nae nfs te gd ae Pala rnc he intact Ftc et one ence Ota a 30 observed. ae Unity of Action Despite the criticism that the Interlude and the two epi jy of action thee is remarkably more unity of action i fe aon cee in in most other plays of Shaw. We find, in the beginning, the Cabinet je ultimatum. But he says he would abel “ would abdicate after dissolving te ament Then he would give up alli tiles and contest nthe eas the potential danger he and his parts Proteus withdraws the ultimate fy Out The King secures a perfect victo, ons as a commoner. Sel ould face from the Kings acon ing of the paper anderalking fefect Exposition An exposition of a play general no y achieves the following: it introduces the major characters; ves the elementsTHEAPELECART | : |saserwavnars cuts ions wnt ANSE . Vanhattan S.A.PIY of conflict between plutocracy and socialism the Van scene is signific, | Does interlude not Contribute to Unity of Action ? ave three unities: of time According to Aristotle, a play should have rhe King says he wonnaarsekS place and action. The Apple Cork hes unity of place and time. But it Inckg rata vg hei yielding to | onity of action "Teg Gert as King’s meeting with Orinthia and Iimatum; he is abdicating. Atfirt | ylly Of Straight Development | When King Magnus reaches his mistress’s room she is angry and rel ees crea eather hr ei Soe SF tarsi, abet geragccars wecne ty wash ir sgaken the unity of action slightly, ° £0 together only a short while ang then move sepaca of sell made plays of Bernard Shaw, perhaps, \e conflict. So lay serves Shaw's p success on the stage Q. 3. Would you consider the unnecessary appendage? (ith ministers. She wants hin ta 4 time with her. She wonde Interlude in The Apple Cart an Or Discuss the relevance of the Interlude in The Apple Cart. Or‘THE APPLE. CART SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS on e Gap place occasionally. We have to presume this from Magnus extending his hands and from Orinthia’s reply “they shall not touch me ever again.” Magnus warns about the dangers of their coming too close. “Do not fall into the common mistake of expecting to become one flesh and one spirit... We two...n.have our orbits and must keep infinite distance to avoid a disastrous collision.” What he gains out of the relationship is made clear by Magnus. \ce on a summer morning and the clock shows ins. The King wants time to take a decision |timatum and he tells the Cabinet that children at play; and you must be conte we see the “strangely innocent relatior see the only occasion in the play where Magnus loses his temper, as see ae ee cieace cho Knows the working OFinthia grasps him tightly preventing him from going. Furiously he ost he hl rough says “Very well then, you she devil; you sal! let go" and grapples earnestly Sparkling wit and humour of the scene withthe hilarious, © ftee himself. Surely we get a completer, three dimensional picture of nding succeeds admirably in making the spectators roar King Magnus in the Interlude, “They become relaxed enough to wait eagerly for the future It Throws Light into the Hidden Side of Various Characters, he play. We get a clearer picture of some of the other characters too from the c Interest Interlude. In the rest of the play we find Proteus as the scheming opponent eeestf an anti-romantic, Shaw knows that nothing attracts of King Magnus who in the end is defeated by the genius ofthe King. But A au eeeee Te rei Cant being ¢poltial the Interlude provides some further information and the King’s relation Caer ee Though there are three otker women Will him. On Orinthia asking the King whether he is condescend to fight any romantic episode in the main story will be unwarranted. (Proteus, he replies that he never fights. When she qualifies Proteus as a eee ean coe the romantcally ambitious Orinthia, who WckSter and a poseur the King remarks "Protas is a clever fellow even on sere href treadingy divine heights, for filling in the gap. sccasion a fine fellow. It would give no satisfaction to beat kim ery legitimate from the point of view of stage success and Shaw | This “fine fellow” aspect of Proteus would have been entirely missing ceeds in it also. if the Interlude are not present in the play. Talking on another subject, [Orinthia reproaches the “Amandas and Lysistratas” . The King’s comments ion it gives a clearer picture of Lysistrata, and the King’s relationship with her. He says “If Lysistrata had a lover I should not be interested in him in the and she bores me to distraction if she has talked of nothing else. But I amt interested in her department. Her devotion to it gives us a topic of terest”. Again we get another aspect of the character of Balbus 'A little is mentioned about women taking away his character making |ifom the interlude. The King tells Orinthia, hinting at the public criticism himall the more popular. And when Proteus threatens to blackmail him, bout her allowance, “But you should hear the speeches Balbus makes about by publicizing his private life, the King betrays his vulnerability too. [your pension”. Even the Secretary Sempronius acquires a new stature, in However, a real episode where he spends his time with his mistress jibe interlude. He enters Orinthia’s room when the King is rolling with reveals more about his character. In Act I, Magnus tells of ladies who sees the scandalous scene, quietly slips out of the room, clears his ‘gain the reputation of being the King’s Mistress would do oat and blows his nose noisily and then enters. After the King going except give the unfortunate monarch the pleasure of substantiating their c way he stiffly replies to Orinthia “No explanations are needed. I saw what We have to think that Orinthia is one like that. Magnus says that thelP Pappened.” In the absence of the interlude one wouldn't be able to see relationship is “strangely innocent”. At the most a little petting might ‘at characters in their completeness. 1 is a political play of serious content. Though, there are anerges and Amanda providing plenty of fun, the main a serious nature. No audience can remain fixed on to Gives Completeness to the Character of Magnus King Magnus is the most important character of the play. He is portrayed as an eminently witty person, is cultured and well read, and ‘2 genius in tackling people and problems. But there is no scope in the main story to show him as a “private person”.‘THE APPLE CART idea-play and the author naturally will like to ‘of his pet theories in the play. Shaw is notoriously anti- through the conversations of the King with Orinthia many ymantic views come out. Orinthia may be a rose but Jemima ‘more useful to a wise man. His attachment to his romantic idea about the sanctity of marriage workaday self’. He tells Orinthia “You “your children are beautiful, but they are ly. A divorce would never sweep them out "Also, “when a man gets tired of his wife and leaves ‘because she has lost her good looks”. All these are some of the anti-cromantic views the author wants to propagate. Where else will he get a proper place to air them except in the Interlude? ‘A Repository of Wit and Wisdom Shavian plays abound in wit, humour and wisdom. The Apple Cart is no exception. But there is no place in the main story to discuss ideas connected with love, marriage and human relations. The Interlude provides ample opportunities for wit and humour to be presented Sbundantly and enchantingly. See the remarks of Magnus. “Ore poet may Consecrate a name for another”; “I should like to kick you sometimes, tohen you fare specially aggravating”. “Our minds go together half way"; “It must be ‘magnificent to have the consciousness of a goddess without ever doing a thing ‘Like other mortal fabrics I have a wrong side and « right side”; never fight. But I sometimes win”; “A real man will never do as a King". More such passages can be quoted and the sparkle of such witty statements adds to the brightness of the play. Conclusion In view of all the above it is unjust to criticise Shaw, telling that the | Interlude is an unnecessary appendage to the play. It acts as a time filler ‘between the two acts to give the sensation that about 7 hours have passed; it provides the necessary relief through the hilariously farcical scene; supplies the romance to make the play appealing to the average theatre goers; it gives a completeness to the character of King Magnus; it throws light into some other characters of the play; it helps Shaw to propagate his anti-romantic views on love, marriage and human relations; and it is a repository of scintillating wit and wisdom. None can say that the Interlude does not serve any dramatic purpose. If the unity of action is slightly weakened, one has to see that the advantages of having the Interlude more than compensate the small draw back. Perhaps, it is worth quoting the opinion of A.C. Ward on this subject. “Critics have followed each other SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS: interlude has nothing to do with the play Q. 4. What does Breakages Limited in The Apple Cart symbolize? Or Discuss the play The Apple Cart as an attack on plutocracy as symbolized by Breakages Limited. Ans. Bernard Shaw has remained a socialist, ever after he joined the Fabian Society in 1884. His leanings towards socialism is evident in his, book, The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism. In The Apple Cart, Shaw shows his admiration for socialism and dislike for capitalism, by airing his views on those subjects through King Magnus and Lysistrata and also by bringing in the fictitious firm Breakages Limited, “the biggest industrial corporation in the country”. When the Labour Party which professed socialistic principles came to power, Shaw was delighted. But when the Labour Ministry of Sir Ramsay MacDonald remained inept under the influence of the plutocrats of England, Shaw was disillusioned. Through The Apple Cart he is brought before the public, a picture of the mockery the government practises in the name of democracy. Shaw’s strongest \eiticism against the Labour Ministry is that it is being used as an instrument by the money-power of capitalists. ‘Breakages, Stands for Plutocracy ‘The name, Breakages Limited is brought in just to represent all that is dark and evil in capitalism and plutocracy. The word plutocracy mane ‘ule by the rich, We find the cabinet ministers of the play making decisions under the influence of Breakages limited. Lysistrata accuses the Cabinet for handing over a very profitable project to the Pentland Firth Syndicate make a profit of billions of pounds out of it. She tells, sway, the boobs you are..Crassus worked that” We ave to understand from the words of Lysistrata that the Cabinet has decided the matter. Further it is revealed that Crassus is the henchman Breakages end of the pl they will find an Breakages in the jb for me’. Naturally we find the powerful hand of ld Firth Syndionle affair also. But m more direct lterference of Breakages in governments, is noticed by Lysistrata, She ES to supply electricity at half the present cost. But Breskages vents her from doing it. She says, “however new invention is bought up ld suppressed by Breakages Limited”, Every accident, every breakage, every ash and crash is job for them. Unbreakable glass, and steel, imperishable aterials and the such are invented by clever scientists and engineers,THE APPLE CART lly reduce the profit of rom repairs. The cost of such pounds. The new inventions will workplaces, leading to less repair Breakages. So they purchase those new ig the inventors handsomely and suppress them are of no use. ists make Profit at the Cost of the Nation Breakages is made at the public loss. Lysistrata clearly capitalism. She says “half their business” can be her half” can be done in “public workshops”, where private gains, She can save large sums for the country plan. But she is helpless because of the plutocratic power his monster with its millions and its newspapers and its fingers can defeat her. The might of their newspaper empire will If she says anything against them in public, they will attack private life and publish plausible stories and to damage her In case she decides to fight them she knows what would happen She says, “I shall be hounded out of public life, and they will shove in into the Cabinet to run my department in their interest”. She is ting at the Cabinet support Breakages has. At the end of Act I we find the Prime Minister gladly accepting the hospitality of Breakages Limited, and taking the whole Cabinet for lunch at their expense. For such entertainment of people in power, Breakages is keeping large sums, reserved. Breakages has Influence in Choosing the Cabinet Members ‘The influence of Breakages can be seen even in the matter of choosing | cabinet members. Generally, it is the prerogative of the Prime Minister. There is evidence to show that strong pressure is applied on the Prime Minister to include Mike, one of the directors of Breakages, into the have given the Home Office to a Bully like Balbus...” With our knowledge of the relationship Balbus has with Breakages, we have to conclude, that, openly argues for them. He says, “Mike would strengthen the Cabinet because he represents Breakages Limited, the biggest industrial corporation of the county ‘SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS a5 From all these it is clear that Crassus and Balbus represent the interests of Breakages. As Nicobar is shown in firm alliance with Crassus, he too is to be considered a Breakages-man. Now they are trying in to shove in Mike too into the ministry. Definitely the influence of Breakages Limited ‘extends to the formation of the ministry too. Capitalistic Influence on Society at Large King Magnus in his long speech mentions the harm the capitalists are doing to the society. bility doesn't allow him to specifically pinpoint Breakages. He says “All the talent and genius of the country is bought up by the flood of unearned money. On that poisoned wealth, talent and genius live far more luxuriously in the service of the rich that we in the service of the country’ King Magnus is sagacious enough to realize the demoralizing effect of the “flood of unearned money”, which in modern terms is “black money”. When the best brains of the country prefer to serve the vulgar-rich, tempted by a luxurious living style, society is degenerating. It leads to tremendous national loss. Y International Capitalism Shaw gives a picture of the influence of international capitalism too in the play. We find Lysistrata’s profitable project, to develop electricity cheaply from the tides in Scotland, has handed over to “Pentland Firth Syndicate, a group of foreign capitalists”. It was Crassus who has worked on the plan and a relation of Crassus is the chairman of the Syndicate. As Crassus is the henchman of Breakages, we have to conclude that even in the transfer of the project to Pentland Firth Syndicate the hand of Breakages may have worked. Directors of one big company are generally found on the board of others too. The influence of Breakages is not limited to financial matters. The merger proposal suggested by the “bullroarer, | Bossfield”, with its tremendous impact on the rest of the world is masterminded by Breakages Limited. The genius of Magnus is able to realize how the tentacles of Breakages work extend. He can clearly see the hand of Breakages working through the Irish President Mick O Rafferty in the True, Breakages, is the symbol of national capitalism jance with international capitalism (As represented by Pentland: Firth Syndicate) and influencing the course of world events.— ‘THE APPLE CART Conclusion The Apple Cart is a political play and in politics there will always be economic under-tones. The socialist that he is, Shaw uses all opportunities he gets, to show the evil and dark side of capitalism. He does bringing in an imaginary company, “a monster u necspapers ond its fingers cory pie. "That compary dleplay al the evils of capitalism, They influence the national politics by shoving their own henchman (Crassus, Balbus) into the ministry and by trying to shove in more (Mouldy Mike). When honest ministers like Lysistrata work for the good of the country they are run down and often their authority is challenged. (Lysistrata is even threatened that they would release mob violence on her house). They buy up new inventions and suppress them from being developed if they, fear those inventions would reduce their profit. They invest their capital in countries where “poverty and hardship” stil exist and exploit them. They influence even international politics 50 as to make profits for themselves. Truly, Breakages Limited remain the symbol of capitalism as it works against the larger interests of the nation. Q. 5. Can The Apple Cart be viewed as a play that champions the ‘cause of Monarchy? Or Do we see Bernard Shaw as a royalist in The Apple Cart? Or Does Shaw defend the English Monarchy through The Apple Cart? Ans. In the preface to The Apple Cart Shaw mentions some “ pother” that arise when the play first appear. He is accused of becoming a royalist who defends the monarchic system of government against the democratic system. But Shaw’s reply is that he is only trying to expose “the unreality of both democracy and royalty as our idealists conceive them”. What we find in the play is a struggle between democratically elected ministers under the leadership of Proteus, on the one hand and the hereditary monarch ‘King Magnus, on the other. In the end the King is shown as the winner not because of the superiority of monarchy over democracy, but because the King happens to be a man of superior individual qualities. He towers well above all others including the “clever” and “fine fellow”, Proteus, Magnus is pictured as a shrewd persons well informed in affairs of the state, keenly devoted to the welfare of the nation, hard working and farsighted, He is almost the philosopher-king, the ideal ruler, of Plato. The victory of such a person over the squabbling Cabinet and the tricky Prime Minister is to be seen as the victory of good qualities over mediocre ones. Taking the play as an attempt of picturing monarchy in a better light then democracy is preposterous. SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS ; ‘Magnus the Constitutional Monarch a True Democrat Magnus, the King of England, is a constitutional monarch. He does not crave for any autocratic powers at all. What he wants is to retain the reserve power the King has, the power to veto the decisions of the Cabinet And that too is not for any selfish reasons. It is only for the good of the nation. Magnus asks the Cabinet “If I see you leading the nation over the | edge of precipice may I not warn if?” It is clear that the King wants his veto power as a check on the and Parliament when measures against | the interests of the nation are taken by them, | eaten? democratic leaning of King Magnus is clear from the various “flatements he makes. About the struggle with the Cabinet over the veto [he says, “I should be sorry to win, as I cannot carry on without the put a stop to the inculcation upon your unfortunate urate of superstitions and prejudices..." Instead they “stand ling cee MEANS wictoss every forward path”. The King knows that the senses MMymoratad above the influence ofthe press. The press can mobiles we [tering the cent and thereby prevent the ministers from coming to pewee this teens Next election. The monarch is the only one who stenee oor a adTannical power. So he asks “Are you well advised tt trying to Ine veto, he wil aro slavery to them”? By making the King girs ns play eae Be made a cipher. The arguments put forward be Ringe this play are not for autocratic power for him sete ence ee 2 the eratect the nation from the twin tyranny of the vous ee nd the capil power, which has “he Press es Cong Public id in King Magnus, a real democrat, oF '¢ People, in the real sense of the term. lagnus, the Socialist When Proteus boasts over the achi bolishing poverty, the King reacts betraying his ant, inings. Magnus says “No: we have not abolishe big businessmen have abolished them. Bu one who champions the cause of y that he.stands for a monarchy steeped ||, and definitely far presenting such a picture, \g a brief for royalty; neither is he running down he describes are the evils of democracy as it is by portraying Magnus as a philosopher-king. positive role a king can play in protecting government and bad legislations. In the conflict Shaw is not on the side of one or the Q. 6. Discuss the conflict between King Magnus and Proteus. Or Discuss The Apple Cart as a satire on democracy. Or Discuss how the confliet in The Apple Cart is resolved. ‘Ans. The play The Apple Cart is viewed as the portrayal of a conflict ‘een two individuals, King Magnus and the Prime Minister, Joseph 's. Both are portrayed as shrewd people championing the causes jelieve in, with firm conviction. They are convinced that their beliefs the right ones and they know each other also very well. Both organize the forces at their command as much as they can and engage in a conflict, making use of all their capacities. Proteus becomes the symbol of ‘racy and Magnus of monarchy. At the end of the play we find neither democracy nor monarchy wins; but we see the better person SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS: sa The Yy starts with a political crisis. The Cabinet of Ministers, the elected representatives of the democratic government, feel that they cannot carry their duty well. The King, Magnus, who is the constitutional head, their job. Further, he is trying to mobilize public opinion ers, Proteus tells his colleagues. “The king is working is. The King is making speeches. He said yesterday....that the King’s veto is the only remaining defence of the people against corrupt legislation”. A meeting of the Cabinet with the King is scheduled to settle the conflict. Proteus, the Prime Minister, has come with an ultimatum ready in his hands, The King must sign it. Or the ministry will resign and tell the people that monarchy is preventing democracy from working the Cabinet expect the public to support the cause of, lemocracy. According to the terms of the ultimatum, the King should give up his constitutional power to veto decisions of the Parliament the Cabinet; he should stop making political speeches; and should stop influencing the public through the papers. In other words he should agree to be a dumb king. If the King has any disagreements with the Cabinet he must keep it to himself and he has no right to publicize them. ‘The Squabbling Cabinet ‘The Prime Minister, Proteus, is the only one in the Cabinet who is sure how to fight the King and his plans. The ministers, more or less always, indulge in squabbling amongst themselves. Lysistrata loses her temper and ridicules the Prime minister. Balbus clamours to include his drunkard brother-in law into the Cabinet. Crassus is accused to be a jobber and Balbus a bungler. Lysistrata accuses that Crassus and such people are helping the rich companies to exploit the nation. She hints of the existence of an unholy alliance between Nicobar and Crassus. Proteus is, charged with despotic behaviour. Amanda splutters in a silly manner at the least provocation and Lysistrata tends to become sentimental. They do not have unity in anything. It is an inept Cabine. However, using ail his skills, Proteus keeps them united in one thing, in asking the King to sign the ultimatum. As Pliny says “On the constitutional question united we stan King’s Tactics The King tries to influence the two women members of the Cabinet to support him. One of them, Lysistrata, is a strong supporter of the King, while Amanda goes only half way in her support. But the bullying tactics of Proteus succeed in making Lysistrata and Amanda stand for the ultimatum. The King tries to influence Boanerges the new minister, too, to support him. However on the ultimatum none is willing to support theT a “THE APPLE CAR’ King, As Proteus says “not one of them dare support you”. Realsing this the King encourages the infighting among the ministers. Cleverly Magnns ‘succeeds in making Lysistrata bring up corruption-charges against some Shinisters. At this, Proteus threatens to blackmail the King in return. If ‘Crassus and Balbus are accused of jobbery and bungling the king will be accused of being a libertine and a free thinker. After admitting his ‘Vulnerability over this matter, Magnus shifts his tactics. He makes an excellent speech showing how a king with real power can be useful in @ responsible government. He cleverly argues how a king can help the ministers conduct their job better. They are subject to the tyranny of the Voters. But the King has no elections to fear and the throne can protect the ministers from the tyranny of the elections. He ends his speech with ‘a question, “I ask you, before you play your last card and destroy me, to consider where you will be without me.” Some of the ministers applaud skilfully keeps the Cabinet united against the “Nothing that you can say will make any .. Why not sign and have done with it” Noticing that the ministers have come to the end of their patience, the King asks for time till O'clock in the evening to give an answer. He tells “At that time, if I can find no way out I will sign...” and the King. goes Out. ‘Magnus Plays His Trump When the Cabinet reassemble the evening, the King tries to play the English sentiment among the ministers against the Scottish Proteus. Here too he fails. Amanda says, “It is no use appealing to the English sentiment here”. Now the King understands the trend and says he has to yield to the constitutional principle, they are putting before him. However hhe cannot sign the ultimatum as they demand. On being asked how he ‘can accept the constitutional principle without signing the ultimatum the king says he is offering to abdicate. The idea at first shocks them but later they change ther views and accept the offer. Then Proteus makes « statesman like farewell speech. Boanerges makes another all start singing a common farewell song. en Magnus Explodes the Bombshell ‘Then Magnus peremptorily tells them to stop and listen to his future plane He tl that his abdication doesnot mean hei going aay from politics. He will dissolve the Parliament, and after giving up all his titles and abdicating he is going to contest the oncoming elections as a commoner. This plan shocks everyone as they know the King will have ‘a walkover victory. The shrewd Proteus sees the possibilty of the King becoming the leader of a political party threatening his party and his ANSWERS a se SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ts i toff and says, PE OCRS ‘ultimatum from the King, tears i vs, OO position Hee ae be uisSimatam. We go on as before, The cra “ee jaa washout”, Then he walks out so Who is the Winner? 7 ing a a winner, bat it fe not the victory of ele democracy ot only. Keg Magnus who is the cleverer of the duo defeats cS a ree tang uses his tramp card, the prospect of going fo fe pabae eae The King wand getting elected. It is a subtle move against Nie itt cer and his colleagues. It was their plan to go to the country am Meister aflict between monarchy and democracy. Now, as Proteus acces ‘the “ace of trumps, from the hand I played the tnomning” ‘The message Shaw likes to put forward is this : theories of goverment are not important in such conflicts; but personal qualities, of the people concerned, a Q.7. Does the author of the The Apple Cart appear to be an opponent of democracy? Or Is The Apple Cart a satire on democracy? ‘Ans. When The Apple Cart is performance was prohibited, di Feader of the play also may consid conclusions however, are doing listed for staging in Dresden, the play as anti-democratic. A casual the play as anti-democratic. Such the author wrong, ¢hroughout his life tised in England of wocracy as such, but only he ind associated with it. As cposes the unreality of both conceive them”. When the Labour Shaw the Socialist, felt truly those days. He does not find fa points out the evils, and drawbacks he hi Shaw says in the Preface, “The Apple Car democracy and royalty as our ideali Party came to power in Britain, happy. But when he has observed how the Labour government works, its lack of unified lack of responsibility, its nepotism and corrupt ways, policy, and its silliness, is disenchanted him. So we find the evils he saw in the ministry and the party which proc bbe democratic and socialistic. Shortcomings of Democracy In The Apple Cart we find a lot of shortcomings and drawbacks of Joseph Proteus's Cabinet and its working, The emphasis is on the faults, not on democracy. Many of the ministers are put to ridicule; many are 1s and Boanerges are modelled af 1 persons, a lot of criticism, denigrating criticism, is levelled,f ‘THE APPLE CART \ds for Capitalism ta, the real socialist, and Boanerges the labour leader, is another company that makes profit at the the nation. Lysistrata, the Minister of Power, knows the huge profits by doing repair work for the government. f the work they do is unnecessary, The other half can be better way in government workshops. But she is helpless in an end to the exploitation by Breakages. Their influence in the is strong enough to defeat any plans of Lysistrata. They are huge amounts reserved for the entertainment of influential people rassus inviting the whole Cabinet to lunch and he says openly ry shoved me into it”, meaning their influence made him a Cabinet Minister. Nepotism Nepotism is found rampant among the ministers. Crassus helps Pentland Firth Syndicate get a very profitable project. When Lysistrata accuses that the chairman of telling. “A lie: A flat lie, He is not related to me”, but admits “He is only my stepson’s father-in-law”. Balbus is the brother-in-law of Mouldy Mike, fone of the Directors of Breakages. Balbus is found trying to bring Mike into the Cabinet. Even the lady member Amanda is not free from nepotism ‘who has three of her nephews in the Navy. Her words “I could have found the system. The readers and the spectators laugh -ause of that shockingly true nature of the criticism ing the Prime Minister, behave in such an irresponsible we are likely to consider them a set of foolish Corruption cards, each one playing for his own hand. The only ‘es honour and respect is the King whose power the a jobter by his colleagues though he denies reduce t0 a cipher At the same time one should & that the Prise Minster krewe about 1or does not plead the case of an absolute monarchy. King “You will say that Crassus is a jobber Crassus SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 35 better jobs in the post office” for them speaks of the nepotism prevailing among the Cabinet Members. Ministers are not free from corruption either. Crassus is considered you are a free thinker. And Balbus will say you are a libertine’. There we find the Prime Minister himself defending his corrupt ministers even by threatening to blackmail the King sudicrous Cabinet Proteus, the Prime Minister, fights the cause of the Cabinet against iiness of the Cabinet. He pretends to be the leader of th ‘authority and mock him and rata defy him whenever they get a his nerves on edge and on hearing, wreatens to resign. Later we ike his walkouts. However, behaviour of the ministers. make fun of him. Arnanda chance. Proteus reaches the Boanerges speaking in sup] find that his threat is, only be is fully justified in comp! They all go squabbling over something, democracy they practise, but only an apol in a ludicrous light, Shaw is satirising wh of democracy. Conceit and Shallowness of Boanerges Boanerges is presented as a labour-leader but he is pompous, shallow and conceited. He reaches the palace earlier then the appointed time and quarrels with the palace servants. He wears a very inappropriate dress, the labour uniform, of which he says, he is proud of. But at a hint from Princess Alice he changes his dress before the next Cabinet meeting, Himself an upstart, he calls those working at the palace upstarts. Trying ‘> impress the two secretaries, he quotes, or rather misquotes, a common proverb, to be corrected by one of them. He does not even show the common courtesy of rising up when the King comes in. Neither does he realise the irony with which the King reacts to his impolite behaviour. Very pompously he tells that the King is only an Indiarubber stamp. But ater being “improved in mind” by the King he puts forward the King’s lly goes on in the namesing the irony in it. His b ik any of his rivals too appears ridiculous. He is adi 10 can manipulate the people by high sounding phrases can win an election easily. Really, Boanerges is a caricature modelled on John Burns, the Labour Leader. Surely Shaw is hinting at the devious means through which demagogues like Boanerges come to power. ss of Amanda and Sentimentality of Lizzie Amanda is a democratic Minister, one may cons silly stuff. She puts on a man’s uniform, but behaves silly throughout She is portrayed as the embodiment of flippancy. She wafts kisses to anyone who criticizes her. Her frivolous remarks irritate not only her colleagues but also the King. On one such instance, when she is flippantly spluttering Magnus reproaches her "Amanda; what is the joke now? Iam surprised at you”. Her comment denigrating Proteus, “Once for all”, gives an opportunity for him to stage a walkout. The most ridiculous democracy a succeeded in driving away Mouldy Mike from her consti chorus, “Boo! Hool I want Amanda's Teddy bear to play with”, which she uses to chase him away is definitely in bad taste, But Shaw shows that these are the ways in which elections are won. Surely the whole is 4 criticism of the democratic elections as they are conducted. [Lizzie is a sincere and honest socialist, but she is portrayed as a sentimental person easily hurt, easily discouraged. The Prime Minister's Turk on her being with the King ought not fo have made her lose her She par, On ending her long speech, showing her helplessness in containing the influence of Breakages Limited, she breaks down. At the very end sf {the play too, we find her shedding tears. A Minister, Shaw appears to tll 1s, should be more rational, if one is to be effective, Lack of Sense of Propriety on the Part of Ministers The ministers, at least most of Propriety. They all know they have very serious matter, the ultimatum them, behave without any sense of assembled in the palace to discuss a to the King. But see how they start the ey % UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS . 5 %G, %, SELECT ey Ss “aye “all very well, but what about my sriate Amanda’s comment ke farewell speech: “You'll be the of the occasion is lost. Even the ty of impropriety. When the epoch: wants the veto power ee King withdrawn, he simply forget i Later when the jum is with forges fo disom the matter and goes out. A Ministry which does not give di Consideration to important matters is a ridiculous and ludicrous one ‘True Democracy, Yes; but Not as It is Practised Now but on the Je Cart is not at all an attack on true democracy, inetiecve form of clned now King Magnus, who opposes the evils of democracy says “Don’t misunderstand me. I don’t want old governing class back”. He wants to be “the centre of attré for ability, public spirit and once again. He disparag “gentleman statesman who declared” that ordinary people “were ae ot. ate : Balbus says is very inappropri brother-inlaw Mike?” Or see h a, manner in which 1cks of democracy, of its evils, The Apple Cart is not really between royalty and democracy, but between royalty and democracy on the one hand and plutocracy on the other”. Discuss. Ans. In The Apple Cart, there is the obvious conflict between the monarch and the elected representatives of the people. However, there is a deeper conflict which meets the mind on an intimate study of the play, The conflict is between true democratic pri principles. Th ‘Shaw and Fabian Socialism ‘Bernard Shaw joins the Fabian Socialist Party in 1884 and he remained committed to socialism till the end of his life. He viewed democracy as a idea. Democracy is an ‘organisation to elect people's representatives to conduct the governmental duties. And the election gives “the English people a sensation of self government”. Socialism does away with the economic dciety his socialism may better ike the first-century-Christians, he wants be trusted with the duty and its workshops. Shaw y in charge of the manufac in his preface how the private f ammunitions during the first England. Their shoddy manufactures the death of many soldiers which have been avoided. When the Private industry simply thinks of jcrest is ignored or neglected. Shaw for the good of the county. can bring the war-ravishe ack to health. Show is appreciative of the drastic rnumunism has taken for cresting an egalitarian society ivate ownership of property property completely. Viewing see that many of Shavian ideas ty has become outmoded. Soviet Union, the first ‘World, has shed socialism and started embracing inforeseen. Even India is shedding, its socialistic ry slowly denationalizing its industry. But during the time ‘is written and for many more years to follow, the Shavian /ate property and socialism enjoyed the respect of intellectuals, {CT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 329 imited as a “monster with its millions ‘every pie” extending its influence too. We find, even, the Prime Minister gladly accepting . ven terms the Cabinet is in the “ payrole’ ied. The ministers who profess to be socialists are being ‘oney power and are working to further its influence. Shaw tells how an acquaintance of his, Gattie, a brilliant inventor, is Glscouraged into frustration because of the greed of the private business. {fis inventions is succeeded, private business would have been making less profit So they causes the suppression of those brilliant and useful inventions of Gattie. Socialistic Views of King Magnus King Magnus is a socialist and his appreciation of the only really socialistic minister, Lysistrata, the Power Misstress Royal, is no accident. Both try to focus the attention of the Cabinet on the damages companies like Broskages Limited and the Pentland Firth Syndicate cause to the nation While talking to Boanerges, Magnus says that the plutocrats have made the Kingship in England an idol so that they can plunder the nation in hus name. In other words the plutocrats have made the monarch a scapegoat, The need of the time is to have a strong man to protect the ¢ the nation, of the common man, from the onslaught of plu A King with real power can be that strong man. In the King’s Spinion the abolition of poverty, the credit for which is claimed by the Cabinet, is the work of the big business. But they are doing this through tunsafe acts, disregarding the long term interest of the country. For one capital is being invested in places where labour is cheap. For another, British industry is producing luxury goods without “real ‘use”, which are exported presently to earn a profit. But a revolution may take place and cheap labour will not be available. Further the market for luxury goods may vanish during a crisis. In both cases the apparent prosperity of Britain will disappear. About this Magnus says “I feel as if Twere sitting on a volcano”. When a crisis arises the superficial prosperity of ‘will vanish giving way to discontent among people. King ‘Magnus’s socialistic ideals can be seen in his reaction to the American proposal of rejoining the British Empire. He considers it a trap the big Capitalists are laying to capture Britain for capitalists. If America joins the Empire, Britain will remain only an apj to America. The real capital of the new Empire will shift from the present London to Washington. ‘Magnus knows that international capitalism is behind the move. See what he says to the Queen, “Breakages Limited have taken it into their heads‘THE APPLE CART 330 Lysistrata is the only true the Ministry, She has identified the forces of capitalism that sbotage her efforts in making her department more efficient. She has plans to develop power cheaply from the tides and the wind. But capitalists with the help like Crassus have succeeded in handing over that international company, Pentland Firth Syndicate, They are ‘millions of pounds of profit from it. If her plans are implemented the profit should have gone to the nation. Proteus appears to be conscious of the role of Crassus in hijacking the profitable national project for capitalists. But he appears to have done practically nothing to prevent Lysistrata’s Fight with National Capitalism Lizzie knows how powerful the capitalist-lobby in England is, The Breakages have challenged her authority brazenly. One of the directors hhas threatened to release mob violence to damage her house. This is because she is a socialist who works for the national interest, which conflicts with their interest. When any new invention that is profitable for the nation comes up, Breakages purchases its copyright, not to develop it, but to suppress it. Some inventors has frustrated by such incidents, think the minister is responsible for neglecting their inventions. Two such inventors have gone crazy and shot at her in an attempt to kill her. She knows that “public losses are private gains”. If she tries to reduce the national repair expenses, Breakages will lose their prof ‘business. If she puts her foot down, capitalists will see that she is removed from her post and a person like Mouldy Mike, their own man, will be shoved into office. Such people will make a mess of the department and ultimately the departmental industries will be sold to private at: scrap value. Such is the monstrous effect of Breakages Limited which has a lot of power concentrated in their hands in the form of the newspapers and other influential institutions, And there is none in the Ministry to support her. Only the King understands her views and appreciates them. Ministers Support Capitalism Itis an irony that ministers of a party that proclaims socialistic ideals ‘work hand in glove with capitalists and that too openly. We find Balbus all the time trying to bring in Mouldy Mike, his brother-in-law, into the Ministry. There is evidence in the play to show that there is 4 forceful cabinet support to this plan. Magnus tells Balbus “If Thad not put my feet down, Mr. Balbus, the Prime Minister would have been unable to ANSWERS: “SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH inet”. And it is Cras out of the Cabinet’. / va Lizzie’s profitable project tothe Pen 5 ee the Chairman of that company. Again iladly accepting the idea of lunching at the expn, jovially remarking, “Lets spoil the Egyptian She socialist ministers have degraded themselves by catering to the interes, of the capitalists. ‘The Alternative ‘The present government is unable to fight the forces of capitalism just becanse it exists with the support of capitalists. In other words the : ‘under the tyranny of capitalism. On the other © Bi ,, who don’t come directly under the capitalist ane nuader another tyranny; that ofthe ignorant mass of voters. In either case the influence prevents them from following policies that ‘are good for the nation. The King is the only person who stands beyond the reach of the twin tyranny of capitalism and of the ignorant voters. We find even the honest socialist, Lysistrata, lamenting “...if I attempt to fight them I shall be hounded out of public life......And they will shove Mouldy Mike into the Cabinet....The King who need not have to think of anybody's support for his position is the only one who can stand up to the tyranny with unflinching courage. That is why Magnus wants the powers of the King strengthened. We see this in the long speech Magnus makes, He tells the Cabinet: “Think of the things you dare not do; the Persons you dare not offend : Well, a king with a little courage may tackle them for you. Responsibilities which would break your backs may still be borne on a king's sho. But he must be a king; not a puppet” The Apple Cart suggests that a really powerful king can make democracy ‘work more effectively. Conelusion ‘On a close study of the various conflicts found in the play we find that the deeper one is that between the forces of capitalism and of socialism. The King is not trying to re-establish monarchy in the old sense of the term. In the present circumstances the forces of plutocracy, cy and socialism; plut Peneland Firth Syndicate, ‘members of the Ministry and the United States of America annexe the Empire; and socialism represented by the King and Lysistrata Ogata aN 4, M8 oe? Mee‘THE APPLE CART le The Apple Cart appropriate to the play? ns, Bernard Shaw usually chose titles for his his plays that were catchi pt for the themes discussed, pleasing to pronounce ant 1g The title of The Apple Cart too, shows many of the above 1 phrase in English, meaning “to Iculated scheme of action”. One lagine what happens to the apples arranged on a vendor's cart if s upset. All the carefully arranged roves ofthe fru Cabinet decision is the only force that saves ossible tyrannies of a bad government. Proteus sees ing, as an affront to democracy and an interference in the business ‘¢ Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers responsible to the ament. By using all his arts he unites an otherwise squabbling Cabinet inst the royal interference. The Cabinet unanimously extends an ose whether monarchy or form ofthe future government The Kings this scheme. This cleanly-work out plan is The le Ff the in effect that of Proteus. : ’ “ae Ea te to lose i Cal How King Magnus Upsets the Apple Cart ? The King is the only person presented in the play as shrewder than SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS 333 the Prime Minister. Proteus, King Magnus is a genius. He tries all his skills to keep the Cabinet divided over the matters of the ultimatum. He attempts to get the support of the women ministers who generally have a rapport with him. He encourages the squabbles among the ministers to reach its logical climax, a disunited Cabinet. He gets the subject of corrupt activities of some ministers discussed. He even tries to bring in the historical mutual dislike between the Scots and the English and attempts to drive a wedge between them. Joseph Proteus skilfully defeats all the attempts of the King and presents the ultimatum and says, “...[ shall not leave the room until I have His Majesty's signed pledge that its conditions will be observed". Finding no other way Magnus asks time till 5 0’ clock in the evening to make a decision. When the Cabinet reassembles King Magnus tries to sidetrack the issue by bringing in the shockingly exciting offer of the American intention to rejoin the British Empire. Some of the ministers start talking about it. But Proteus”’spoils the King’s plan and tells the Cabinet “the English King has side tracked you again”. And to the King: “What about the ultimatum, Sir? You promised us your decision at 5 O'clock. It is now quarter past.” Now the King, finding no other way to postpone the matter, tells he is going to abdicate. It shocks the Cabinet fa little but the prospect of the politically aloof Robert, King Magnus’s Son, coming to the throne appears a satisfactory alternative. Proteus makes ‘an impressive farewell speech, followed by Boanerges. But then Magnus lodes his bombshell. He will not be going out of politics. He is going jolve the parliament, and contest in the oncoming election as a moner. The Ministers are sure of the King’s victory and of the lihood of the King becoming the next Prime Minister. He will be a potentially dangerous rival to Proteus. As the rest of the Cabinet remain schocked, unable to think of the future course of action, Proteus gets back the ultimatum from the. King, tears it off, declares it withdrawn and walks out of the stage. The Prime Minister's bitterness at the King’s upsetting his apple cart is clear from the last words he speaks : “I will never forgive you for this. You stole the ace of trump from my hand I played this morning”. So we find the tittle very appropriate. The play is about upsetting the carefully devised scheme of Proteus to restrain the King’s power. ‘The Apple Cart of Democracy The second sense in which the title is significant has a wider and more important connotation. Democracy is the apple cart and the Shavian ideals are upsetting it. In 1884 Bernard Shaw got converted to Fabian Socialism and he has glorious dreams about a socialistic government working for true democracy, justice, equality etc. When the Labour Party, which professed socialism came to power in 1929, Shaw is delighted. But‘THE APPLE CART ™ the performance of the ministry disillusioned him. The government has degraded itself by becoming inept and corrupt. The jobbers and bunglrs ‘who come to power has won the elections by deceit. Once in power they are influenced either by money power or by the ignorant electorate. In ests of the country and the common people were ‘ignored. Lord Acton’s dictum that “power tends to corrupt and absolute Power corrupts absolutely” is proved right as all power is found concentrated on the Cabinet of Ministers. Seeing all these Shaw has second thoughts on democracy as it is practised. Those have changed opinions of his, on democracy, can be seen in The Apple Cart Init Shaw presents democracy as an apple cart and by putting forward his criticism of democracy, he is ina way trying to upset the apple cart The Pretensions of Democracy The introductory meeting of Boanerges with the King exposes many of the pretensions of democracy. Boanerges, the labour leader, is republican and socialist. He is crude in m ignorant of important political issues. He ‘hes the palace in the worker’ uniform proclaiming “I’m proud of it’. But when he comes in the eve for me” and they en a bigger ‘Magnus also convinces him that ig is no more an Indiarubber stamp than his ministers. In the second act we find Boanerges talking of “clectioneering in England” and Proteus hints that Bo, didn’t wi by “straight votes” rata the y alone. Again we find this republican, at a hint from the King, dreamily gloating over the possibility of becoming a republican President wielding much greater power than any king. All these expose the humbug associated with democracy and socialistic pretensions ‘The Corruption Among the Ministers Most of the ministers of the play are found inept or corrupt. Balbus isang whe Cran i jer Both ae wong han with big business. Nicobar who is in an unholy alliance with Coones cannot be any better. Even Amanda is pictured to be powererazy, for Proteus says that she, wants the Ministry of Navy where three cf her nephews work. No charges of corruption are levelled against the Prine SELECT UNIVERSITY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS is , protecting the corrupt and bullying ministe: Meee ke fei S urther he keeps his leadership by his commiting 2H these aptly picture the dark side of democracy, various drawbacks. Influence of the Rich and Powerful instigate mob violence agi ¢ inventions if at all they happen to lower their profit. They malign honest ministers by running down the working of the concerned departments. multinational companies ble projects from the government to inc: the public good, Honest People Become Ineffe ive Ministers Without Sense of Propriety We find most of the ministers behavin, Often we see the ministers fundamental issues what Balbus. asks is of the chance of e mia geting into the Cabinet On anes ores oot bother deviates into Mike's drinking, Lizzie tells "what sor of tga esto you... The King puts before us the most serious questions. ba Suan essing wheter tis drunken ence Sees and of yeu On another occasion the King leads the Cabinet to diceesy Moke nature ofthe current prosperity, they talk of “chocolate erenen ets “pales es thes prose En when nee Sea an of the American merger comes inthe whole Cane een main offerae boat the matter of the ultimatum. Nobodt 1m. Nobody is cares to tackle serious problems that face the country. Lizsie means this when the says “In this Cabinet there is no such thing as a policy. Every one plays for this own and”. And most of the hands are corrupt hands ‘Shaw Tries to Upset the Apple Cart All the incidents of the play quoted above are aimed at criticising democracy as itis practised. The socalled democrats talk glily of the Power of the common people and paint a rosy picture of socialism in future. But iti all humbug. And the humbug of democracy is exposed in ' convincing manner. By doing so Shaw is trying to upses the apple cart fof democracy as it i practised. So the title get its significance inthis sense t00. ‘The Apple Cart of the Balance Between the Monarchy and Cabinet There sa third sense in which we can find significance tothe ithe consti Momrcy isthe apple cat. this see as inte fst oes, there is no upset te apple cr but the app cart i sinpy shown 4 usual coume. Ring Magn tells Nicobsh “So, 1 haven’ apse te apple cart." The end ofthe ply ees the withdrawl of thelist, Sha things remaining where they have boon The Pao fs te ‘Supreme power but the King bas some reserve power to farn down the decisions ofthe parinment though he may not we that power However, there tat eat a check onthe Palament bythe King This balance the rower the Falinment and tat ofthe monarch whch exes in England, Contes to exist So the appl eatin this sense nat wc Conclusion ‘The Apple Cart i very appropriate name for the play. Shaw appears to have chosen the name after careful consideration. At one level we find the shrewelly prepared plan of Proteus, to checkmate the King is defeated. (On another layer we find the author shattering the conventional ideas and belies about democracy and socialism. At both these layers we find the “upsetting the apple cart” in the English proverbial sense. At the third layer the play presents the balance that has come to the constitutional ‘monarchy. Here there is no upsetting the apple cart; but the apple cart of {Conshtutional monary # moving Jorware perhaps, precious, oMtving fll atlempts to upset i (Q.10. Is the subtitle to the play “an Extravaganza” appropriate to the play? ‘Ans. An extravaganza literally means either “a literary or musical work ‘marked by extreme fredom of syle and stractire and usually. by elements of omic imitation, mockery or ridicule” or “a lavish spectacular show or event”. SELECT UNIVERSHEY QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS ao se ar yng yp De et aly teres gehen became arly aba aa - i aa uy ecm of sen iy cn on hy ess or Gea a rca seem enone ee pee Santor hace oem say ine Se oi fone reais it wee eo ee ca tr eae pt iy eh gon ne sateen nce 7c eum sheibanemae necks tase na rae Sccrteaninsy Satgecetraes ne Sos ya eet erent sa Pmitaon of wal characters but thelr ent less known iene mtratia Sein oe eg Sis et re ea cote ace wea hh maken oa ae . Sonn ey mate haha ‘Trade Minster The improper dress in which he reaches the palace i rg ee etna cee one iether ste he nal Cag ony eT neta bmn Howie rae anergy a fron ame erect Tan a eae TEs Sasa nae ap tice ean Nai one here ce URtent over one meue Boanenges thnks the ultimatum is accepted and ser ira Eo ne naa Wang se Se PE tea ene ge eee nate an ath Bineat ciryeatekome eae ya fa ce gear eevtata caine Seay a ete te Spd nS elec Gia Sc aa we onastenite Sy terse Soe tas