Arms and the Man: Chapter Summaries

Act-III

In the Act-III, Raina's reality has been revealed to Sergius. As Bluntschli decided to stay here for some couple of days. So, Raina gets a chance to make a few private conversation. Raina says that he loves Sergius and she is not used to telling lies. But, she has to do it for the twice in her life. One  is at her bedchamber to save Bluntschli and another is when she sees Bluntschli and called him "chocolate cream soldier". But, Bluntschli rejected her claim straightly. He tells to her that people used to tell lies and she is not the exception. Her affection to the Sergius is deceptive. Raina is densely surprised by his straightforward words. She has become speechless. Because, everything is told by Bluntschli are true. She always speaks to her parents even to her  nurse when she was a child in lofty manner. They never disbelieve her. But, he is the only man who does not believe her lofty tone and expose the reality without any hesitation. By this incident, Raina has greatly been attracted by Bluntschli which started from their first meeting.

Sergius has been able to figure out that he is in deep love with Louka and would like to marry her. Now, he makes excuses to get rid of Raina by accusing her making love with Bluntschli. Raina did not tolerate his this kind of awful manner and also accused her about making love with maid servant Louka. By this time, Major Petkoff is brought into the scene and he has become puzzled by this condition. Then he asked Raina to whom she wants to go Sergius or Bluntschli. In the response, she utters she does not want any of them because to whom she is engaged, wants to marry Louka. Petkoff replies that Louka is engaged with Nicola, so it is no use of his desire. But, Nicola rejects his claim and tells that he is not engaged with Louka, it is just make sure her safety.

It is cleared to everyone that Sergius wishes to marry Louka and congratulated by Bluntschli. Louka says Raina is more interested to Bluntschli than Sergius. But, Bluntschli tells her that she will not like a man of thirty-four, where she is just seventeen. With these words, he is scolded by Raina as she is a woman of twenty three. Now, Bluntschli realizes that she is interested to him and offers her father to giver her hands. As he is the owner of six hotels, so it is possible for him to make sure a comfortable life to Raina Petkoff. And the play ends happily with Sergius deciding to marry Louka, and Raina deciding to marry Bluntschli.

Related Topics:
Arms and the Man: Summary Act-I
Act-II  

Arms and the Man: Chapter Summaries

Act-II

The act II started with the frustration of Sergius. After the end of the war, Major Petkoff and Sergius came back to home. They felt pretty comfortable after coming back from a long train of hard work. Catherine, hoped to be promoted Sergius due to his bravery in the battlefield. But, Petkoff denied his promotion and told her he  may be court-martialled due to his blunder of ordering a cavalry charge. This makes Sergius very frustrate. The Bulgarian got the victory due to his cavalry charge, but he is not given promotion due to his taking of wrong procedure. If he applied the right method of waging war, he might be promoted even they are defeated in the battlefield. From his disappointment, he made cynical view about the profession of soldier. He says that soldiering is a coward's art of attacking the enemy when he is weak, and keeping away from the battle when the enemy is strong. They do not fight on equal terms. In that case, Catherine tries to console him.

Raina is no longer admires to the Sergius. A series of changes have taken place in her mind. She does not care if Sergius knows about the incidents that she has given shelter to a refugee. Then the story turns into more interesting when Bluntschli comes to the Petkoff house to return his old coat. Catherine tries her best to send him off before the eyes of Petkoff and Sergius. But, she fails to do it. Bluntschli has been caught by the eyes of Pekoff. Catherine has got stunned when she sees that he has been greeted by her husband. As he is no longer an enemy Sergius also greets him. Major Petkoff offers him to stay here for a couple of days in order to help him about some technical problems. He agrees and entered into the house. Raina has become very delighted by seeing him and screams by his given name " chocolate cream soldiers". Later, she realizes she utters something  which should not be done towards her fiance and father. Then she covers it with a lie. Infact, both Catherine and Raina don't want reveal the secret of that night in which the refugee takes shelter in that house. Bluntschli, is requested to stay there for a couple of days. And here the Act II ends.

Previous: Act-I Summary                                                                    Next: Act-II Summary

Arms and the Man: Chapter Summaries

    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.

Upcoming Topic

Arms and the Man: Summary Act II