Elements of Universal Appeal in the Heroic Characters of Mrs. Warren and Ghasiram Kotwal

Abstract

In this paper, we have gone on to analyze the character of Mrs. Warren in 'Mrs. Warren's Profession' and Ghasiram Kotwal in the play by the same name 'Ghasiram Kotwal.' Both these characters are among some of the strongest ones drawn by George Bernard Shaw and Vijay Tendulkar Both the characters are the strongest characters of George Bernard Shaw and Vijay Tendulkar respectively. As Shaw was inspired from a true story of a lead poisoning case of Ms. Ann Jane in a white lead factory on the other hand, Ghasiram was a historical inspiration from the Maratha history of a man who was in charge of policing in Poona during the reign of Madhav Rao Peshwa under the aegis of the minister Nana Fadnavis. The two characters in question are some of the most versatile in terms of the emotional and dramatic hues they carry, besides being very pragmatic at times. They have a very vivid universal appeal because they are breakers of stereotypes in the most nuanced way. These characters show how men and women can transcend from the debate of Masculinity and Feminism when the ambition of men and women is held as the only guiding light to achieve success in life.