Contradiction of Ideas in George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs Warren’s Profession

Rendriyanto Setiawan

1213009037

Abstract Mrs Warren’s Profession categorized as play unpleasant by its author George Bernard Shaw, is one of world most famous and controversial plays. The play, unlike other play during its era, uses the corruption and hypocrisy from the upper class of Victorian Era society as the theme. The play is purposed by the author as a scathing criticism to its theme. This purpose is materialized on the ideas represented by the two major female characters in the play. Uniquely, these ideas differs greatly to one on another until it looks like a there is decent contradiction on it. From this point, this paper aims at finding out ideas represented by the two major female characters. There are two major female characters being analyzed, Vivie Warren, a Cambridge graduate and Mrs Warren, both Vivie Warren’s estranged mother and a brothel owner. The finding of the major female characters ideas takes lengthy but worthful steps. The writer first has to read the script of the play five times. The first and second one are to know the overall of the drama and take notes of interesting things on the play. When the writer does those two steps above he also selects the narrations and dialogs in the play are related to the topics and also reads and analyzes other books and sources related to the topics of the thesis. Those steps above are essential to gather data that will be used to reveal setting, characters, plot and, theme of the play in order to do the analysis. He later read the play three more times to group the topics on the play, categorizes the idea of the major female characters and make sure all ideas are on its correct place. Keywords: contradiction, ideas, Mrs. Warren’s Profession

Introduction

There are many kinds of art but they can be classified into three subdivisions. They are visual arts, literary arts and performing arts. One of the most famous arts is literary arts or famously called as literature. Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs (1989) state that literature refers to either written or spoken composition that is designed to tell stories, dramatize situation, interest, entertain, stimulate, broaden, and ennoble readers. From the previous statement it can be

1 said that literature has broad benefits and trademark. Mainly literature is designed to entertain and amuse people that have a contact with literature. However, their benefits do not stop and stuck only solely into that one. Edgar V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs again state that literature also helps people to grow in the same time both personally and intellectually. Intellectually, literature helps people connect themselves to the broader cultural, philosophic and religious world which people become part of. In personal way because literature deals with issues, problems and themes that live within the society it enables people to develop a perspective on the events around them. On later stage people who are exposed to these revelations in turn make a new great deal of impact in the society. People will make creation and distribution of new ideas, thought, perspectives and philosophical way into to the society. One of the most famous literature genres is drama. Drama is most likely the closest literature branch with people. Dr. Samuel Johnson stated that stated that a novel or story must indeed “true to life”; through humor, fable, and so on. Moreover than that, people sense of what is “true to life” can be modified and enlarged by people experience of the work of literature itself. (as cited in Liliana, 2003).

In the world of drama, there are not many drama that can fulfill those characteristics above. One of them is Mrs Warren’s Profession. Mrs Warren’s Profession takes the opposite theme from play or drama that George Bernard Shaw creates later. Sosialist Chinese philosopher Du Yang states that Mrs Warren’s Profession boldly exposes shameless degradation as the product oppression from capitalist system (as cited in Crawford, 2003, 160). The author, George Bernard Shaw in the preface of Mrs Warren’s Profession, The Author’s Apology, stated this practice of oppression unjustly is targeted towards the women by making them deeply plunged in poverty while the upper class enjoys prosperity from this oppression (Shaw, 2009, p.10). He further stated that every man and woman present will know that as long as poverty makes virtue hideous and the bribery of the rich makes vice dazzling, their daily hand-to-hand fight against prostitution with prayer and persuasion, shelters and scanty alms, will be a losing one. He later stated that it is no defense of an immoral life to say that the alternative offered by society collectively to poor women is a miserable life, starved, overworked, fetid, ailing, and ugly. The man who cannot see that starvation, overwork, dirt, and disease are as anti-social as prostitution—that they are the vices and crimes of a nation, and not merely its misfortunes. He proclaimed that Mrs Warren’s Profession simply affirmed that Mrs Warren’s Profession is a play for women. Lastly, he proposed via the play for women to stop become Victorian Women,

2 women who lived in accordance to the social convention of Victorian Era and starts to live as New Woman, woman who is independent, strong, skillful and equal with men. Before we go to our analysis it is best to know better about what Victorian Women and New Woman.

Victorian Women

In Victorian Era, marriage was possibly one of the most significant points in a woman’s life. The majority of women did not have the option not to marry because it was simply a necessity for survival. It happened because society prevented women from making their own living, so there was an inescapable dependence upon men’s income. It is expected also for women from middle social class to marry men from the upper social class. It happened in order to give them more respect: “Barred by law and custom from entering trades and professions by which they could support themselves, and restricted in the possession of property, woman had only one means of livelihood, that of marriage” (Kent 86). Secondly, to be even considered as a potential wife, women had to be not only virgins, but were expected to remain innocent and “free from any thought of love or sexuality” until after they had received a proposal (Kane 97). After a woman married, her rights, her property, and even her identity almost ceased to exist. By law she was under the complete and total supervision of her husband: thus through marriage, husband and wife became one person; whatever view he presented was the unquestionable truth (Perkin 73).

New Woman

New Woman was a feminist ideal that emerged in the late 19th century and had a significant influence on feminism well into the twentieth. The term “New Woman” was coined by the writer and public speaker Sarah Grand in 1894 (271). It soon became a popular catch- phrase in newspapers and books. The New Woman, a significant cultural icon of the fin de siècle, French terms for end of the century departed from the stereotypical Victorian woman. She was intelligent, educated, emancipated, independent and self-supporting. The New Women were not only middle-class female radicals, but also factory and office workers. The New Woman pushed the limits set by patriarchal and male-dominated society.

3 Ideas of the Female Major Characters

There are two major female characters analyzed in this research, Vivie Warren, a Cambridge graduate and her estranged mother and chain of brothel owner, Mrs Warren. An apple will never be far from its tree. Something that is also applied in the case of the two major female characters analyzed in this research. Even though they are have familial relationship both of them also have their own ideas which are represented through their opinion about certain issues and topics that rose throughout the whole of the drama and we will try to find out below.

Vivie Warren

. Vivie Warren is a 22-year-old Cambridge graduate middle class Englishwoman with distinguished appearance. Personally, she is described to have such an amazing attractiveness among the women on her era even in such a degree which is described by the author of the play as an attractive specimen. It is revealed also throughout the analysis that Vivie Warren adopts the characteristic of New Woman. Vivie Warren is living her life freely and antagonizing the social convention of the Victorian Era. Below is the line that shows Vivie Warren is living her freely

VIVIE [striding to the gate and opening it for him] Come in, Mr Praed. [He comes in]. Glad to see you. [She proffers her hand and takes his with a resolute and hearty grip. She is an attractive specimen of the sensible, able, highly-educated young middle-class Englishwoman. Age 22. Prompt, strong, confident, self-possessed. Plain business-like dress, but not dowdy. She wears a chatelaine at her belt, with a fountain pen and a paper knife among its pendants]. PRAED. Very kind of you indeed, Miss Warren. [She shuts the gate with a vigorous slam. He passes in to the middle of the garden, exercising his fingers, which are slightly numbed by her greeting]. Has your mother arrived? VIVIE [quickly, evidently scenting aggression] Is she coming? PRAED [surprised] Didn't you expect us? VIVIE. No. PRAED. Now, goodness me, I hope I've not mistaken the day. That would be just like me, you know. Your mother arranged that she was to come down from London and that I was to come over from Horsham to be introduced to you. VIVIE [not at all pleased] Did she? Hm! My mother has rather a trick of taking me by surprise—to see how I behave myself while she's away, I suppose. I fancy I shall take my mother very much by surprise one of these days, if she makes arrangements that concern me without consulting me beforehand. She hasnt come. PRAED [embarrassed] I'm really very sorry.

4 VIVIE [throwing off her displeasure] It's not your fault, Mr Praed, is it? And I'm very glad you've come. You are the only one of my mother's friends I have ever asked her to bring to see me. PRAED [relieved and delighted] Oh, now this is really very good of you, Miss Warren! VIVIE. Will you come indoors; or would you rather sit out here and talk? PRAED. It will be nicer out here, don't you think? VIVIE. Then I'll go and get you a chair. [She goes to the porch for a garden chair]. PRAED [following her] Oh, pray, pray! Allow me. [He lays hands on the chair]. VIVIE [letting him take it] Take care of your fingers; theyre rather dodgy things, those chairs. [She goes across to the chair with the books on it; pitches them into the hammock; and brings the chair forward with one swing]. PRAED [who has just unfolded his chair] Oh, now do let me take that hard chair. I like hard chairs. VIVIE. So do I. Sit down, Mr Praed. [This invitation she gives with a genial peremptoriness, his anxiety to please her clearly striking her as a sign of weakness of character on his part. But he does not immediately obey]. PRAED. By the way, though, hadnt we better go to the station to meet your mother? VIVIE [coolly] Why? She knows the way. PRAED [disconcerted] Er—I suppose she does [he sits down]. VIVIE. Do you know, you are just like what I expected. I hope you are disposed to be friends with me. PRAED [again beaming] Thank you, my dear Miss Warren; thank you. Dear me! I'm so glad your mother hasnt spoilt you! VIVIE. How? PRAED. Well, in making you too conventional. You know, my dear Miss Warren, I am a born anarchist. I hate authority. It spoils the relations between parent and child; even between mother and daughter. Now I was always afraid that your mother would strain her authority to make you very conventional. It's such a relief to find that she hasnt. VIVIE. Oh! have I been behaving unconventionally? PRAED. Oh no: oh dear no. At least, not conventionally unconventionally, you understand. [She nods and sits down. He goes on, with a cordial outburst] But it was so charming of you to say that you were disposed to be friends with me! You modern young ladies are splendid: perfectly splendid! VIVIE [dubiously] Eh? [watching him with dawning disappointment as to the quality of his brains and character].(p.214-215)

The brief personal descriptions Vivie Warren above shows that she is actually an extraordinary person by woman in the Victorian era. Typically, women during the Victorian era are stereotyped of being dependent, weak, low in self-esteem, indecisive and intellectually inferior, a sign of inferiority and no character on themselves. Vivie Warren lives differently. She possesses the good quality of human, things that in the Victorian Era is more associated with men. Praed, however possesses the least wanted quality of human which in the Victorian Era is

5 more associated with women. This occurance makes Vivie Warren as the the antithesis of the common women in the Victorian Era.

Later in the play, it is revealed that Vivie Warren firmly and sternly positioned her in an unlikely position as a woman towards the topic of money. Below is the line that shows her position towards the topic of money CROFTS Pleasant young fellow that, Miss Vivie. Pity he has no money, isn't it? VIVIE. Do you think so? CROFTS. Well, whats he to do? No profession. No property. Whats he good for? VIVIE. I realize his disadvantages, Sir George. CROFTS [a little taken aback at being so precisely interpreted] Oh, it's not that. But while we're in this world we're in it; and money's money. Nice day, isn't it? VIVIE Very. CROFTS Well thats not what I came to say. Now listen, Miss Vivie. I'm quite aware that I'm not a young lady's man. VIVIE. Indeed, Sir George? CROFTS. No; and to tell you the honest truth I don't want to be either. But when I say a thing I mean it; and when I feel a sentiment I feel it in earnest; and what I value I pay hard money for. Thats the sort of man I am. VIVIE. It does you great credit, I'm sure. CROFTS. Oh, I don't mean to praise myself. I have my faults, Heaven knows: no man is more sensible of that than I am. I know I'm not perfect: thats one of the advantages of being a middle-aged man; for I'm not a young man, and I know it. But my code is a simple one, and, I think, a good one. Honor between man and man; fidelity between man and woman; and no can't about this religion or that religion, but an honest belief that things are making for good on the whole. VIVIE "A power, not ourselves, that makes for righteousness," eh? CROFTS Oh certainly. Not ourselves, of course. Y o u understand what I mean. Well, now as to practical matters. You may have an idea that I've flung my money about; but I havn't: I'm richer today than when I first came into the property. I've used my knowledge of the world to invest my money in ways that other men have overlooked; and whatever else I may be, I'm a safe man from the money point of view. VIVIE. It's very kind of you to tell me all this. CROFTS. Oh well, come, Miss Vivie: you needn't pretend you don't see what I'm driving at. I want to settle down with a Lady Crofts. I suppose you think me very blunt, eh? VIVIE. Not at all: I am very much obliged to you for being so definite and business-like. I quite appreciate the offer: the money, the position, Lady Crofts, and so on. But I think I will say no, if you don't mind, I'd rather not. CROFTS I'm in no hurry. It was only just to let you know in case young Gardner should try to trap you. Leave the question open.

6 VIVIE] My no is final. I won't go back from it. [Crofts is not impressed. He grins; leans forward with his elbows on his knees to prod with his stick at some unfortunate insect in the grass; and looks cunningly at her. She turns away impatiently.] CROFTS. I'm a good deal older than you. Twenty-five years: quarter of a century. I shan't live for ever; and I'll take care that you shall be well off when I'm gone. VIVIE. I am proof against even that inducement, Sir George. Don't you think youd better take your answer? There is not the slightest chance of my altering it. (p.260-262)

From the line above, Sir George Crofts offers Vivie Warren money and a lifetime support to become his wife. In the Victorian Era, women are expected to have husband from the upper class of the society. It happens because in the Victorian Era, people from the upper class of the Victorian Era get so much privilege that makes them in real pole position to get wealth. They get land, money from the taxes of their land and also every strategic profession that produce a lot of money but, in fact, exploit the lower social class for their own gain. They do not have to work hard but still get a lot of money, something every woman in the Victorian Era is looking for but Vivie is an exception. She refuses Crofts’ marriage proposal as she is more interested in Frank Gardner’s youth and playfulness and she love to work, something impossible to happen if she is married to Sir George Crofts, a member of the Upper Class of the Victorian Era society.

Mrs Warren

Mrs Warren is Vivie Warren’s estranged mother, a mid class English woman, a mid forties. Unlike her daughter, Mrs Warren positioned her in a really unique position. She positioned herself in the middle of the topic by adopting both the characteristic of New Woman and Victorian Woman. She both lives her live freely and by the social convention. Below is the line that shows she is living her life freely

MRS WARREN [indignantly] Of course not. What sort of mother do you take me for! How could you keep your self-respect in such starvation and slavery? And whats a woman worth? whats life worth? without self-respect! Why am I independent and able to give my daughter a first-rate education, when other women that had just as good opportunities are in the gutter? Because I always knew how to respect myself and control myself. Why is Liz looked up to in a cathedral town? The same reason. Where would we be now if we'd minded the clergyman's foolishness? Scrubbing floors for one and sixpence a day and nothing to look forward to but the workhouse infirmary. Don't you be led astray by people who don't know the world, my girl. The only way for a woman to provide for herself decently is for her to be good to some man that can

7 afford to be good to her. If she's in his own station of life, let her make him marry her; but if she's far beneath him she can't expect it: why should she? it wouldn't be for her own happiness. Ask any lady in London society that has daughters; and she'll tell you the same, except that I tell you straight and she'll tell you crooked. Thats all the difference.(p.248)

The line above shows the dire condition that should be endured by a woman in the Victorian Era. They are chained to follow the strict social convention of the Victorian Era’s society. This social convention is so torturing for women because it promotes a great deal of oppression towards them for the sake of men. Mrs Warren has to endure this kind of treatment but later she quit it and live her life by tresspassing that strict social convention of the Victorian Era’s society because she respects herself, control herself and despises the live in accordance to the social convention. Her choice results into a sweet one. She is able to escape her poverty and even gives good education to her daughter, Vivie Warren to become a respectable person. Below is the line that shows she is living her live based to the social convention of the Victorian Era

MRS WARREN. Yes, Heaven forgive me, it's true; and you are the only one that ever turned on me. Oh, the injustice of it! the injustice! the injustice! I always wanted to be a good woman. I tried honest work; and I was slave-driven until I cursed the day I ever heard of honest work. I was a good mother; and because I made my daughter a good woman she turns me out as if I were a leper. Oh, if I only had my life to live over again! I'd talk to that lying clergyman in the school. From this time forth, so help me Heaven in my last hour, I'll do wrong and nothing but wrong. And I'll prosper on it. VIVIE. Yes: it's better to choose your line and go through with it. If I had been you, mother, I might have done as you did; but I should not have lived one life and believed in another. You are a conventional woman at heart. That is why I am bidding you goodbye now. I am right, am I not?(p.249)

Mrs Warren on the other hand again positioned her in the middle of the topic. She is on one side considers money is important but on the other hand she does consider it as unimportant. Below is the line that shows she considers money as a really important thing MRS WARREN. Well, thats settled. Now if those two would only come in and let us have supper. Theyve no right to stay out after dark like this. CROFTS [aggressively] What harm are they doing you? MRS WARREN. Well, harm or not, I don't like it. FRANK. Better not wait for them, Mrs Warren. Praed will stay out as long as possible. He has never known before what it is to stray over the heath on a summer night with my Vivie. CROFTS [sitting up in some consternation] I say, you know! Come!

8 REV. S. [rising, startled out of his professional manner into real force and sincerity] Frank, once and for all, it's out of the question. Mrs Warren will tell you that it's not to be thought of. CROFTS. Of course not. FRANK [with enchanting placidity] Is that so, Mrs Warren? MRS WARREN [reflectively] Well, Sam, I don't know. If the girl wants to get married, no good can come of keeping her unmarried. REV. S. [astounded] But married to him!—your daughter to my son! Only think: it's impossible. CROFTS. Of course it's impossible. Don't be a fool, Kitty. MRS WARREN [nettled] Why not? Isn't my daughter good enough for your son? REV. S. But surely, my dear Mrs Warren, you know the reasons— MRS WARREN [defiantly] I know no reasons. If you know any, you can tell them to the lad, or to the girl, or to your congregation, if you like. REV. S. [collapsing helplessly into his chair] You know very well that I couldn't tell anyone the reasons. But my boy will believe me when I tell him there a r e reasons. FRANK. Quite right, Dad: he will. But has your boy's conduct ever been influenced by your reasons? CROFTS. You can't marry her; and thats all about it. [He gets up and stands on the hearth, with his back to the fireplace, frowning determinedly]. MRS WARREN [turning on him sharply] What have you got to do with it, pray? FRANK [with his prettiest lyrical cadence] Precisely what I was going to ask, myself, in my own graceful fashion. CROFTS [to Mrs Warren] I suppose you don't want to marry the girl to a man younger than herself and without either a profession or twopence to keep her on. Ask Sam, if you don't believe me. [To the parson] How much more money are you going to give him? REV. S. Not another penny. He has had his patrimony; and he spent the last of it in July. [Mrs Warren's face falls]. CROFTS [watching her] There! I told you. [He resumes his place on the settle and puts his legs on the seat again, as if the matter were finally disposed of]. FRANK [plaintively] This is ever so mercenary. Do you suppose Miss Warren's going to marry for money? If we love one another— MRS WARREN. Thank you. Your love's a pretty cheap commodity, my lad. If you have no means of keeping a wife, that settles it; you can't have Vivie.(p.232)

During the Victorian Era parents has complete control towards their children life especially about marriage. This thing is also believed by Mrs Warren. She initially is quite supportive of marriage proposal to her daughter. It happens because the one who asks it comes from the upper class of Victorian Era society. It will give her a lot of advantages if it happens. They will get money, lifetime support and more importantly, a chance to climb to the top of social class in the Victorian Era society. But it does not happen because Frank Gardner already lost all of his money. Mrs Warren’s action above indicates that money is very important to her

9 CROFTS. What do you go encouraging that young pup for? MRS WARREN [on the alert at once] Now see here, George: what are you up to about that girl? I've been watching your way of looking at her. Remember: I know you and what your looks mean. CROFTS. Theres no harm in looking at her, is there? MRS WARREN. I'd put you out and pack you back to London pretty soon if I saw any of your nonsense. My girl's little finger is more to me than your whole body and soul. [Crofts receives this with a sneering grin. Mrs Warren, flushing a little at her failure to impose on him in the character of a theatrically devoted mother, adds in a lower key] Make your mind easy: the young pup has no more chance than you have. CROFTS. Mayn't a man take an interest in a girl? MRS WARREN. Not a man like you. CROFTS. How old is she? MRS WARREN. Never you mind how old she is. CROFTS. Why do you make such a secret of it? MRS WARREN. Because I choose. CROFTS. Well, I'm not fifty yet; and my property is as good as it ever was— MRS [interrupting him] Yes; because youre as stingy as youre vicious. CROFTS [continuing] And a baronet isn't to be picked up every day. No other man in my position would put up with you for a mother-in-law. Why shouldn't she marry me? MRS WARREN. You! CROFTS. We three could live together quite comfortably. I'd die before her and leave her a bouncing widow with plenty of money. Why not? It's been growing in my mind all the time I've been walking with that fool inside there. MRS WARREN [revolted] Yes; it's the sort of thing that would grow in your mind. [He halts in his prowling; and the two look at one another, she steadfastly, with a sort of awe behind her contemptuous disgust: he stealthily, with a carnal gleam in his eye and a loose grin.] CROFTS [suddenly becoming anxious and urgent as he sees no sign of sympathy in her] Look here, Kitty: youre a sensible woman: you needn't put on any moral airs. I'll ask no more questions; and you need answer none. I'll settle the whole property on her; and if you want a checque for yourself on the wedding day, you can name any figure you like—in reason. MRS WARREN. So it's come to that with you, George, like all the other worn-out old creatures! CROFTS [savagely] Damn you!(p.242)

Mrs Warren once again gets a marriage proposal coming for her daughter from a member of upper class of the Victorian Era. Having a son-in-law from the upper class from the society of Victorian Era is the dream of every parent in the Victorian Era. It happens because the upper class from the society of Victorian Era is the only class where money comes easily without a lot of struggle. However, Mrs Warren is a devoted mother. She is not amazed with only stacks of money thus she declines the proposal. It happens because she knows the source of their wealth. It

10 comes from a really vile way, corruption and exploitation from the lower class. Moreover than that, Sir George Crofts is twice older from the age of Vivie Warren. It will make her to succumb to the stereotype of their era that people get marry because of money, a really unrespectable stereotype for a very respectable college graduate like her daughter. Her action somehow means she does not consider money is important.

The Contradiction of Ideas Represented by the Female Major Characters in George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs Warren’s Profession

There are two female major characters that are described briefly on the previous heading, Vivie Warren and Mrs Warren. From the previous heading, it is revealed that both female major characters possess identical ideas, considered to be uncommon to be possessed by women by the Victorian Era society. They also possess different ideas despite identical ideas which can be summed up and compare into the following table below

Table 4.1 Table of Ideas Ideas No. Topic Mrs Warren Vivie Warren 1. Living Freely. Slightly Different 2. Practicality Slightly Different 3. Freedom Slightly Different 4. Optimism Slightly Different 5. Career Slightly Different 6. Truth Slightly Different 7. Parenting Style Completely Different 8. Family Value Completely Different 9. Marriage Slightly Different 10 Money Slightly Different 11 Freedom of Will Slightly Different 12 Character Slightly Different 13 Oppression to Women Slightly Different 14 Lifestyle Completely Different

The table above shows that Mrs Warren and Vivie Warren possess a slightly different idea on living freely, practicality, freedom, optimism, career, truth, marriage, money, free will,

11 character, and oppression to women. Mrs Warren stated that she takes job in prostitution bussiness, a thing that considered filthy by the Victorian Era society, mainly because no other job gives opportunity for her to escape the dire condition of poverty that women face, her sole purpose. Her focus is do whatever it takes to achieve her sole purpose means she is a practical person. Later in the play, it is revealed that she is still doing her prostitution bussiness because she is tempted to live in extravagant way which is a complete detour to her sole purpose which proves that she is not a practical person because do something which exceeding her main purpose. Vivie Warren only does something which is supportive on her goal, become an independent respectable person, a practical view. Mrs Warren one side she lives free live in the spirit of freedom. She has habit that more related to men in the Victorian Era such as drinks whisky and soda, something that “good men” of the Victorian Era do not do anymore. On the other side she shows the tendency that is commonly experienced by women on the Victorian Era, never does exercises and she even does not believe that her daughter drinks liquors and smoke which means that she is not in the spirit of freedom. It is revealed on the play that Vivie Warren has habit that is more related to Victorian’s men such as drinking liquors and smoking cigars

During the play, Mrs Warren once stated that people always can escape the dire situation if they maximally use their potential. Her optimistic view contradicts to her pessimistic view that there are no other better options than prostitution to escape the dire situation that women have. Vivie Warren also experiences the same condition. Surprisingly, she does not become desperate like her mother. She changes that disadvantage into a stepping stone to achieve her dream which means she is a really optimistic person. Mrs Warren states that every person does not like to work but they still do it because they have to in order to survive but on the other time she states that she loves working. Vivie Warren have stated that she only love working more. Mrs Warren always states to her daughter that she is always telling the truth to her. Ironically, it is also revealed throughout the play that she is also holding the truth to every person in the play. During the play, Vivie Warren always tells the truth when she is interacting with the other characters. Mrs Warren believes that marriage is not an important thing and does not marry. Ironically, she asks her daughter to plunge into the life of marriage. During the play, Vivie Warren has always stated her opposition to marriage. Mrs Warren on one side thinks that people do not have freedom of will because all of their decision are controlled by the condition they face. On other

12 hand she believes that people always have option on their life which means that they have freedom of will. Vivie Warren sternly believes that people always have freedom of will in every condition they face. Mrs Warren, on one occasion, believes that women should have dignity and integrity like her, a “character”, but, at the same time, she hates women that want to have “character”. On the other hand, Vivie Warren only believe that all people especially women should have “character”. Mrs Warren experienced the practice of oppression to women which she condemns. On the other hand, she did it also by doing the prostitution bussiness. Vivie Warren shows her disdain for the oppression to women by condemning the prostitution bussiness. It is materialized by the severance of her relationship with her mother.

Mrs Warren and Vivie Warren are mother and daughter. It is normal that they have a slighly different idea about a lot of topics like what revealed above because of their familial relationship. However, they also have completely different ideas about certain topic. They have complete differences on parenting style, family and lifestyle. Mrs Warren supports the idea of authoritarian parenting style, a common practice in the Victorian Era. On this parenting style, parents and children status are unequal. Children are positioned as parents’ property while parents have an unlimited authority on them which really contradicts Vivie Warren’s. She is more in favor on the authoritative parenting style. On this parenting style parents and children are positioned on the same status. Children have the rights on their own lives while parents give assertion and support to them. Their contrasting idea as mentioned above also creates another difference between them on the idea of family value. The authoritarian parenting style emphasizes that children have to live with their family even when they are mature enough before they are getting married. On the other hand, the authoritative parenting style emphasizes the independence of children from their family when they are mature enough. Mrs Warren and Vivie Warren also have a completely different idea about lifestyle. Mrs Warren prefers an extravagant lifestyle, the lifestyle from the upper class of the Victorian Era while on the other hand Vivie Warren prefers the casual lifestyle, the life style from the lower class of the Victorian Era. It makes them to have a decent contradiction about ideas on living as a woman in the Victorian Era. Mrs Warren chooses a safer option by adopting both the view of Victorian Woman and New Woman. It makes her to have an idea of moderate people. However, Vivie thinks the other way,

13 Vivie Warren chooses a harsher option by only adopting the ideal view of New Woman. It makes her, somehow, viewed as a radical person

Conclusion

The analysis of the findings leads the writer to draw some conclusions. There is one aspect analyzed in the play Mrs Warren’s Profession. It is the ideas represented by Mrs Warren and

Vivie Warren in Mrs Warren’s Profession. Vivie Warren adopts the ideal view of New Woman.

Vivie Warren is in favor on living freely, practicality, optimism, freedom, career, truth, free will and character. She is not in favor with the authoritarian parenting style, marriage, oppression to women and money. In terms of parenting style she does not like the idea of authoritarian parenting style, family union before marriage and extravagant lifestyle. She is in favor with authoritative parenting style, children’s independence from parents and casual lifestyle which makes her a radical person. On the other hand, Mrs Warren adopts both the ideal view of

Victorian Woman and New Woman. She is really in a neutral position on living freely, practicality, freedom, optimism, career, marriage, free will, character, oppression on women money. She is in favor to the authoritarian parenting style, family union before marriage and extravagant lifestyle which makes her a moderate person. It makes them have a really decent contradiction on each other idea.

14 References

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Grand, Sarah. “The New Aspect of the Woman Question”, North American Review, 158 ( Mar. 1894), 271.

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