Act I
Arms and the Man was written by George Bernard Shaw in the year of 1894. It was published in Shaw's second volume of plays. The story of this drama begins with the victory of Bulgaria over Serbia in 1885. The victory has been ensured by the one of the Bulgarian army named Major Sergius, who made a cavalry charge over Serbian. Due to the wrong ammunition of Serbians, the cavalry charge made it easy for the Bulgarian to win over Serbian. The Cavalry Charge was not an intelligent move. Because, it could be responsible for the death of thousands soldiers of Bulagaria. Actually, it was a great mistake done by Sergius, though Bulgaria could manage to win the war.
The Serbian soldiers were defeated and start fleeing from the battlefield. One of them named Bluntschli, who was a Swiss artillery captain and waging war against Bulgaria. He tress passes into the bedchamber of Raina, who was engaged to Major Sergius and the daughter of Major Petkoff.
Raina is dreamy girl who has some illusions about life, get surprised by the behave of this soldier. According to Raina, soldiers are brave and bold. They are not afraid of death. But, her romantic idea about the soldiers has totally changed when she meets Bluntschli. She has been convinced that soldiers are also human being and they are subjected to death. They also have fear of death as Bluntschli is trying his best to keep him away from the Bulgarian soldiers. She was stunned when she comes to learn that Bluntschli carries chocolate instead of cartridges. As she sees him hungry, she offers some chocolate to him. He devours the chocolate creams; then she gives him the name of "chocolate cream soldiers". Being sympathized with the wretched condition of this chocolate cream soldiers, Raina decided to give him shelter and save him from the Russian soldiers who were searching for the fugitives in her room. Then Raina able to know the true fact of cavalry charge which is made by her fiance. The cavalry charge which led by Sergius is one of the most ridiculous incidents in the life of Bluntschli and the former should be court-martialled for his unpardonable mistake. Raina informs her mother about fugitive that she gives shelter and save him from the Bulgarian army. Catherine was not too happy with this immature action of Raina, but agreed to let the intruder remain in the house for that night. Then the intruder felt asleep and in the morning he leaves the house of Petkoff with old coat of Major Petkoff.
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Arms and the Man: Summary Act II
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