Justify the title of the play ‘You Never Can Tell’.

Answer

 Justify the title of the play ‘You Never Can Tell’. [2020, 2018, 2016] ✪✪✪ 

The title is an unavoidable or essential part of every literary work. George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950), the Irish dramatist, wrote the famous play “You Never Can Tell” in 1898. The play’s title is simple but full of deep meaning. It expresses the main idea of the play: the uncertainty of life. Shaw shows that we can never tell what may happen in love, family, or society. Life is full of surprises, and events often turn out unexpectedly. The title reflects Shaw’s belief that life is unpredictable and full of mystery.

Uncertainty of the Future: The main message of the play is the uncertainty of life. Shaw proves that no one can predict the future. Mr. Crampton never expects to meet his wife and children again. Valentine also does not know what will happen at the lunch party. The waiter, William, tells Mr. Crampton, 

“It’s the unexpected that always happens, isn’t it? You never can tell, sir: you never can tell.” 

This line gives the central idea of the play and justifies its title.

Love Crosses Ideology: Mrs. Clandon tries to make her children follow her modern ideas. She teaches her daughter, Gloria, to stay away from love and marriage. But Gloria falls in love with Valentine, a simple and honest man. Shaw shows that love follows no rules or plans. Valentine says,

 “Nature was in deadly earnest with me when I was in jest with her.” 

Love is natural and unexpected. This incident proves that human hearts cannot be controlled by ideas or logic.

Humour and Satire: Shaw uses humor to show the ironies of life. Mrs. Clandon thinks she can control her family with her philosophy, but she fails. Her daughter disobeys her ideals. Shaw satirizes false modernity and Victorian pride. He says, 

“We don’t bother much about dress and manners in

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