BERNARD SHAW.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 289, 7 December 1933, Page 27

BERNARD SHAW.

Although many may not agree with Shaw, his candour compels admiration. "When-the war broke out he entered the lists and was the first to say "Don't" to the British people. And during the war years he went gaily on telling the people that they would pay bitterly for their patriotism. He has a supremo mental courage, and thus wo find him at the Bradlaugh centenary broadcasting the statement that the English Government is the last thing in and that a Government that tolerates a system of education that involves the "teaching of lies to children" should be pilloried'. The world needs candid men. For while physical courage is common, mental bravery is rare. Shaw mighthave used his gifts against the people. As to the negative side of Shaw, he is by no means a "great" writer. No character creator, he has attained a major portion of his fame through his methods. "Literary taste," says Carlyl<j, "is a matter of liver." I admire Shaw 'because he is an iconoclast, and has paved an intellectual path, despite the cowardice of the age and people among •whom his lot was cast. His force is unquestioned. Criticism is, of course, very often -the refuge of. the mediocre. But in Shaw's case, ho has advanced new truths, and, as lie says, "the British people, when they are presented, with a new truth treat it as tigers treat astrango animal in the jungle—tear it to pieces." I certainly think that Shaw's fame is not the result of persistency, and, as some hostile writers say, his capacity for making a tremendous noise under any—or all—circumstances. When you remember that Shaw fought againet tremendous odds to gain the car of the public, it is safe to assume that he had a message of some importance to tell. He has that rare gift—intellectual lucidity. This attribute raises him above tho ranks of the pigmies, where it has often been tried to place him. Ho has never —nor will he ever —become an apostate. 1 dislike his Celtic habit of weakness for buf.fooncry. He is apt to don the cap and bells when dealing with serious sub-1 jeets. When we want to enjoy that kind of thing we go to the* circus or to minstrel shows. I doubt if it is'nece>s- - probable—that Shaw will ]il:c Dickens, ever enter tho ranks of the immortals. Dickens had a genius for what is known as "individual analysis." •Men and women—not institutions— seemed to.be laid-bare by his inimitable powers,, of.,.observation . and keenness of deduction.' When we mention Dickens his characters immediately rise before :us. Shaw's name recalls but his power and his originality. Shaw contracts his characters subservient to his theme. Dickens' creations loom up and predominate the landscape. Both write rs aimed at the same objective. HERBERT MULVIHILL.