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Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
The Author's Apology
Explanation and Analysis:
The narrative tone in Mrs. Warren's Profession is philosophical and, at times, didactic. Shaw utilizes the stage directions in the play, as well as the Author's Apology, to speculate on the nature of evil and to contemplate societal tensions around morality. He often does this through the use of figurative language, as in the following excerpt from the Author's Apology:
I have pointed out again and again that the influence of the theatre in England is growing so great that whilst private conduct, religion, law, science, politics, and morals are becoming more and more theatrical, the theatre itself remains impervious to common sense, religion, science, politics, and morals. That is why I fight the theatre, not with pamphlets and sermons and treatises, but with plays; and so effective do I find the dramatic method that I have no doubt I shall at last persuade even London to take its conscience and its brains with it when it goes to the theatre, instead of leaving them at home with its prayer-book as it does at present.
In the above passage, Shaw rails against the loss of "conscience" and "brains" in contemporary theater, using a tone dripping with criticism and scorn. He frames Mrs. Warren's Profession as a play in opposition to this loss of conscience. In the final sentence, Shaw uses figurative language to underscore his didactic statements, complaining that audience members literally leave their brains at home when they go to the theater.
Related Themes:
