Arms and the Man: Act 2 Summary & Analysis

It is March, 1886. Louka and Nicola, a middle-aged manservant, are in the garden of the Petkoff’s house. Nicola is lecturing Louka about her manners, saying that if she does not improve, Catherine will fire her. Louka, defiant as ever, tells Nicola she doesn’t care what Catherine thinks of her. Nicola argues that he will never be able to marry Louka unless she is on good terms with the family. Louka asks him if he will always side with the family, and Nicola says he is dependent on their good word. Louka tells him he has no spirit, and Nicola dismisses her as simply being too young.

Louka agrees she is young, but says she knows secrets about the Petkoffs that could ruin them. Nicola reveals that he knows secrets too, mentioning he knows about something that would end the engagement of Raina and Sergius if it ever got out. Louka is incredulous and asks Nicola how he knows about that—she has never told him. Nicola insists she must be a better servant, and Louka disgustedly tells him he has “the soul of a servant.”

A loud knocking on the gate announces that Major Paul Petkoff, Raina’s father, is back from the war. Nicola quickly tells Louka to fetch coffee, and Louka mutters to herself that Nicola will never put the soul of a servant into her. Major Petkoff enters, a cheerful but rather undignified man of about 50. Louka goes to fetch Catherine, who kisses Paul and is delighted to hear that the war has ended.

Catherine and Paul catch up, bickering amicably about changes to the house, including a bell that rings for the servant and Catherine’s habit of hanging laundry out where everyone can see it. Soon Sergius knocks at the door, and Nicola goes to let him in. Major Petkoff mentions to Catherine that Sergius will never be promoted until they are sure that Bulgaria will not be fighting in a war any time soon.

Sergius enters, a tall and “romantically handsome” man. He is, according to the stage directions, the picture of Byronism—idealistic, handsome, brooding. He is Raina’s “ideal hero.” Catherine is delighted to see him. Major Petkoff, less so.

Sergius announces he has submitted his resignation to the army, because he has won the war for Bulgaria and still been unfairly denied a promotion. He then asks to see Raina, who appears suddenly around the side of the house. Petkoff remarks aside to Catherine that Raina appears always at the right moment. Catherine impatiently tells him that Raina “listens for it,” calling it “an abominable habit.”

Sergius greets Raina with “splendid gallantry” as if she were a queen. Raina greets her father, and listens as Sergius explains why he does not wish to be a soldier anymore—it is, he realizes, a “base,” ignoble profession. Then he and Petkoff recall a story they heard about a Swiss soldier fighting for the Servians who was taken in by some Bulgarian women who helped him sneak away in the morning, giving him the coat of the master of the house, who was away at the war.

Raina and Catherine act horribly offended by this story, and Raina wishes Sergius had refrained from telling her about such horrible women. Sergius launches into an elaborate speech of apology which is cut off by Major Petkoff, who tells him his daughter is being too sensitive. Petkoff asks Sergius inside but Catherine intervenes, saying that they should give Sergius and Raina time alone. Catherine and Major Petkoff depart.

Sergius and Raina exchange romantic words. Sergius tells Raina all his heroic deeds have been for her, and Raina blissfully tells him that together they have found a “higher love” which has made even thinking of “base deeds” impossible. They embrace, and pull apart when they hear Louka coming. Raina says she will go inside to get her hat and then they can go for a walk together.

Louka comes outside, and Sergius’s demeanor changes instantly—he becomes mischievous and twirls his mustache. He asks Louka if she knows what a “higher love” is—she is shocked and tells him no. He tells her it is a “very fatiguing thing” and Louka offers him some coffee. Sergius grabs her hand, and Louka puts up an act of resisting. Sergius comes to her and grabs her shoulders, asking her what she thinks of the “half a dozen Sergiuses” who keep manifesting themselves in his handsome figure. Louka begs him to let go and he refuses, so she suggests that they at least go somewhere they cannot be seen, as Raina is probably watching them from the window.

Sergius agrees. He tries to kiss Louka, and Louka tells him she doesn’t want his affection—he is making love behind Raina’s back just as she is doing behind his. Sergius recoils and demands her to explain herself. He calls Louka “devil” and she surmises that one of the six of him is very much like her. He paces and wonders which of the six is the “real” him—the hero, the buffoon, the blackguard, the coward? He asks Louka to tell him who his rival is.

She says she doesn’t know, for she only heard his voice through Raina’s bedroom door. She says she is sure that if the man ever returns, Raina will marry him. Louka claims she knows the “difference between the sort of manner you and she put on before one another and the real manner.” This hurts Sergius, and he grabs her again. She tells him he is hurting her, and he tells her he doesn’t care. He tells her she has the soul of a servant, and lets her go. Louka’s arms are bruised.

Louka defiantly responds that she and Sergius are made of the same “clay” and that she is worth six of Raina, who is “a liar and a cheat.” Sergius apologizes for hurting her, and Louka asks him to prove he is sorry by kissing her bruises. He proudly refuses, and walks away from her. Raina comes out, and Louka proudly passes her on the way into the house. Raina playfully asks Sergius if he has been flirting with Louka, and he criticizes her for thinking such a thing. Just as they are about to leave for their walk, Catherine enters and tells Sergius that Major Petkoff needs him for something. When he leaves, Raina visibly relaxes.

Now in private with Raina, Catherine calls the Swiss man a beast for spreading the story of their hospitality around, and tells Raina that if the story ever gets out, her engagement to Sergius will be over. Raina offhandedly suggests that her mother marry Sergius instead of her—for she seems to care for him more. Raina, almost to herself, expresses her desire to do something shocking in front him, to shake him out of his propriety. She flippantly says she does not care if he finds out about the chocolate cream soldier. She goes back inside.

Louka comes into the garden to tell her a Servian officer has arrived and is asking for her. It takes Catherine a moment to remember they are at peace with the Servians. Louka tells her the officer is asking to see the lady of the house. His name is Captain Bluntschli, and he is Swiss. Catherine is startled and tells Louka to bring him to the garden without letting Major Petkoff or Sergius see him.

Captain Bluntschli greets Catherine warmly, and she tells him he was foolish to come, as the Bulgarians still hate the Servians and she might get in trouble. He apologizes, though he seems disappointed, and explains he has only come to return the coat she lent him. Catherine tells him she will grab it from his bag, and send the rest of the bag back to him, if he leaves his address. She then ushers him out the back door of the garden.

Just then Major Petkoff arrives, warmly greeting Bluntschli by name and shaking his hand. He does not notice how nervous Catherine is. Sergius joins them and Petkoff apologizes that the servants have brought him to the garden instead of the library. He explains that he and Sergius have been working on how to bring troops home from certain remote areas, (now that the fighting is done) and Bluntschli says he believes he could help. Sergius happily tells him to come inside. Just then, Raina arrives, and exclaims in shock, “the chocolate cream soldier!”

Raina collects herself and explains that she had made a chocolate cream soldier that Nicola had accidentally smashed. She apologizes to Bluntschli, adding that she hopes he did not think she was referring to him with such a name. He tells her it is a relief to hear that she was not. Petkoff is fed up with his servants, and brings Nicola outside to scold him for his mistakes (though we know Nicola is innocent.) Nicola accepts the criticism, and Bluntschli is finally taken inside, as Catherine makes a gesture of despair.