Vivie in "Mrs. Warren's Profession"

Paper Summary:

The status of women in Victorian society before World War I differed considerably from that of the decades following enfranchisement. In Victorian society, women were considered inferior to men but in later years, a new liberated woman evolved. This paper shows that in 1893, Bernard Shaw admitted in his play, "Mrs. Warren's Profession", that a new woman was already arriving, one who was determined to make a decent living without angling for a husband. The new woman could do so now because, at last, professional opportunities were becoming available to women. The paper shows how Shaw rethinks the Victorian notion of women by characterizing Vivie Warren in "Mrs. Warren's Profession" as a new, liberated woman who takes advantage of what society has to offer to her independence.

From the Paper:

"Vivie's behavior as a new woman greatly unnerves those who expect traditional womanly behavior from her. She expresses herself in a very straightforward and unequivocal way instead of being more subtle and devious, as was expected of Victorian women. After offering Praed a bone-crunching handshake, Vivie tells him he is "just like what I expected," and that she hopes he is disposed to be friends with her. Praed's surprise and delight in Vivie's straightforward manner is apparent in his statement, "You modern young ladies are splendid: perfectly splendid!""

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