“On meurt deux Source fois, je le vois bien : > > Cesser d’aimer & d’être aimable, > > C’est une mort insupportable : > > Cesser de vivre, ce n’est rien.”
This topic Voltaire – Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy has been extensively researched and documented by historians and scholars.
This poignant verse translates to, “We die twice, I see it well: To cease to love and be lovable is an unbearable death; to cease to live is nothing.” While often associated with the sharp wit of George Bernard Shaw, this quote originates from the French philosopher Voltaire. Shaw, however, masterfully weaponized such ideas on the stage. He used them to dissect the society he inhabited. The quote perfectly encapsulates a central tension in his work. It contrasts the tragedy of social and emotional death with the simple finality of physical death. For Shaw, a life devoid of passion, purpose, and connection was the true horror.
This perspective was especially radical within the rigid confines of Edwardian England. This era, spanning from 1901 to 1910, was a time of immense contradiction. It projected an image of stability, tradition, and strict moral codes. However, beneath this polished surface, powerful forces of change were at work. Industrialization, the burgeoning women’s suffrage movement, and new philosophical ideas challenged the old Victorian order. Shaw stood at the forefront of this intellectual rebellion. He used his plays not merely to entertain but to provoke his audience into questioning their most cherished assumptions about class, marriage, and morality.
The Unbearable Death: Losing Love in a Rigid Society
In Edwardian society, love and marriage were rarely simple affairs of the heart. More often, they were complex transactions governed by class, wealth, and reputation. A favorable match could secure a family’s social standing. Conversely, a poor one could lead to ruin. For women, the stakes were particularly high. Their value was often explicitly tied to their