Heroism and Anti-Heroism: From Arms and the Man to Saint Joan

Bernard Shaw wrote about heroes and heroism (or bravery), as well as one of its antonyms, anti-heroism, and he created characters who exemplified and discussed them. The chief focus of this article is Arms and the Man and Saint Joan. In both plays and in Shaw’s screenplays of them, he dramatizes characters’ idealistic views of heroism as well as their heroism and anti-heroism in action. He also spoke of these subjects in his own person, notably in regard to World Wars I and II. Furthermore, in an important respect, Joan is the Sergius of the play named for her.