Draw a Comparison Between Raina And Louka.
Arms And the Man is a notable literary work by George Bernard Shaw. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Arms And the Man.
Answer
Draw a comparison between Raina and Louka.
In G. B. Shaw’s (1856-1950) “Arms and the Man” (first produced in 1894), Raina and Louka are two important characters who are very different from each other. They show different views on love, class, and life. Daughter of Major Petkoff, Raina is born into wealth and privilege. She is like the heroine of a romantic novel. Louka is a bold and realistic servant in the Petkoff household. Their differences help us understand Shaw’s message about society and human relationships.
Background and Social Status: Raina is born into a wealthy Bulgarian family. She is the daughter of Major Paul Petkoff. She has an easy life and is treated like a lady. Her engagement to Sergius, a high-ranking officer, shows her high social position. Raina’s upbringing makes her care about outer appearances and what society expects.
Louka, on the other hand, is a servant in Raina’s home. Despite her lower status, she doesn’t accept being treated as less important. She is confident and dreams of rising above her position. Louka scolds Nicola, another servant, in the following manner:
“You have the soul of a servant, Nicola.”
This shows her bravery in following her heart. She is determined to rise above her social class.
Personality: Raina is a romantic and loves to dream about heroic love and bravery. She has unrealistic ideas about life. For example, she calls Sergius her “hero” and believes they share a “higher love.” She says to Sergius:
“I think we two have found the higher love.”
Louka is the opposite. She is realistic and doesn’t believe in fake appearances. She tells Sergius,
“I know the difference between the sort of manner you and she put on before one another and the real manner.”
Louka’s words show she understands real emotions, while Raina is lost in her romantic fantasies.
Views on Love: Raina believes she loves Sergius, but her love is based on his image as a brave soldier. She does not really know him as a person. Over time, she realizes her love for Sergius is not real. She falls in love with Bluntschli, who is honest and practical.
Louka has clear and bold views on love. She believes love should be real and honest, not based on class or false appearances. She tells Sergius to stop worrying about society and love her for who she is. She says,
“I would marry the man I loved, which no other queen in Europe has the courage to do.”
Louka’s strong belief in true love makes her a powerful character.
Critique of Class: Raina is influenced by her high social class. At first, she tries to live up to its expectations. But her love for Bluntschli helps her break free from these ideas.
Louka, from the beginning, rejects the idea of class boundaries. She refuses to act like a typical servant and demands respect. Her courage to love Sergius, despite being from a lower class, shows her strength and independence.
To draw a conclusion, Raina and Louka are very different, but both show us important lessons. Raina evolves from a dreamy idealist to a more practical and self-aware individual. Louka, however, is bold and defiant from the start, using her intelligence and confidence to demand respect and equality. Through these two characters, Shaw teaches us about love, honesty, and breaking free from society’s expectations. Their stories remind us to value truth and individuality.