What is life force in “You Never Can Tell”?

Answer

What is life force? [2019, 2015] ✪✪✪

Or, What is life force? Discuss. [2017]

George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) expressed his idea of the Life Force in many plays, including You Never Can Tell (1898). The Life Force refers to a powerful and creative energy within human beings. It helps life to grow, improve, and reach higher stages of development. Let us now move to the main discussion.

Meaning of Life Force: The Life Force is a natural and creative energy that exists within humans. It pushes people toward love, growth, and continuation of life. In “You Never Can Tell,” the narrative primarily unfolds through the character of Gloria. Her attraction to Valentine is not only emotional but natural. It is the Life Force that brings them together.

Love as Life Force: Shaw connects love with the Life Force. Love is not just romantic; it is the energy that keeps life moving forward. Valentine feels this when he says, 

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

He jokes about love, but nature is serious because it uses love to create life. The Life Force works through this attraction between man and woman.

Gloria as the Agent of Life Force: Gloria represents the Life Force in the play. She is strong, intelligent, and confident. She tries to control her feelings but finally accepts Valentine’s love. Through her, nature fulfills its purpose. Her attraction to Valentine is the Life Force acting through her instincts. She becomes the symbol of women’s creative power.

Scientific View of Love: Valentine also refers to love as a chemical reaction. He says, 

“No, no, no. Not love: we know better than that. Let’s call it chemistry.” 

This shows that the Life Force works like science—natural, real, and beyond human control.In short, Shaw shows the Life Force as the natural energy of love and