George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, and polemicist known for his wit, sharp social commentary, and significant contributions to modern drama. Born in Dublin, Shaw moved to London in 1876, where he initially struggled as a writer. He gained recognition through his critical essays, particularly in music, theatre, and politics, becoming a prominent voice in the Fabian Society, a socialist organization advocating gradual social reform.
Shaw’s plays are characterized by their intellectual rigor, humor, and engagement with social issues such as class inequality, education, marriage, religion, and politics. His work challenged Victorian norms and sought to provoke thought and reform. One of his early successes, Mrs. Warren’s Profession (1893), addressed prostitution and economic exploitation, drawing both praise and controversy. His most famous play, Pygmalion (1913), satirizes class distinctions and explores themes of identity and transformation; it later inspired the popular musical My Fair Lady.
Shaw’s writing combined realism with a distinctive style that broke away from melodramatic conventions, influencing 20th-century drama. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925 for his work that is “marked by both idealism and humanity.” He also received an Oscar for the screenplay of Pygmalion in 1938, making him the only person to have won both a Nobel Prize and an Academy Award.
A lifelong advocate of socialism, vegetarianism, and rational thought, Shaw remained a controversial but towering figure in literature and public discourse. His legacy endures as one of the greatest dramatists in the English language.
