Grace Gilchrist's Childish Jealousy and Bernard Shaw's Idiotic Thoughtlessness

Grace Gilchrist was one of the young women whom Bernard Shaw knew and befriended in the 1880s. What is known of her comes mostly from Shaw's Diary and a few letters, and pertains to the jealousy she showed in regard to other young women in their circle. Shaw could stir up jealousy while at the same time think of himself as innocent. This article shows that in Grace he had met someone particularly susceptible, as can be seen through her own history as well as that of her family. Grace, her mother, and Walt Whitman may have even played some part in Shaw's inspiration for Man and Superman.