“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 poignant verse captures a profound human truth. It 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 George Bernard Shaw’s masterpiece, Man and Superman, the quote actually originates from Voltaire. However, its sentiment perfectly distills the philosophical core of Shaw’s play. Shaw explores a death of the spirit that is far more terrifying than the mere cessation of life. He presents a world driven by a powerful, instinctual purpose where love is not a romantic whim. Instead, love is the engine of human evolution.
Through Man and Superman, Shaw argues that a higher intelligence, which he terms the “Life Force,” guides humanity. Voltaire (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) This force works through individuals to create progressively better beings, ultimately striving for the “Superman.” It is a relentless, unsentimental drive toward perfection. Therefore, participating in this grand project through procreation and purpose is humanity’s highest calling. To reject this role is to suffer that “unbearable death” of irrelevance.
The Life Force: Shaw’s Evolutionary Engine
George Bernard Shaw was deeply engaged with the scientific and philosophical ideas of his time. Source Specifically, he wrestled with Darwinian evolution and Nietzschean philosophy. He created the concept of the Life Force as his own unique contribution. This concept posits a conscious, creative will guiding evolution from within. It is not random chance but a deliberate push toward greater complexity and self-awareness. The Life Force is Shaw’s secular substitute for divine providence.
In Man and Superman, this force is the play’s true protagonist. The human characters are merely its instruments. The play’s lengthy preface, which is famously longer than the play itself, outlines this philosophy in detail. Shaw uses it to argue that humanity’s purpose is to serve this evolutionary imperative. Consequently, our social conventions, romantic ideals, and personal desires are secondary. The ultimate goal is the creation of a philosophic man: a being who can understand and further the Life Force’s goals. This intellectual ambition sets the stage for the central conflict between the play’s main characters.
Ann Whitefield: The Hunter, Not the Hunted
Shaw brilliantly embodies the Life Force in the character of Ann Whitefield. On the surface, she appears to be a respectable, charming Edwardian woman. However, underneath this conventional exterior, she is a ruthless agent of evolutionary purpose. Ann is not waiting to be chosen by a suitor. Instead, she has already selected her mate: the radical thinker John Tanner. She pursues him with single-minded determination, using her charm and social intelligence as weapons.
Ann represents a complete inversion of traditional gender roles. She is the predator, and Tanner is her prey. Her actions demonstrate Shaw’s belief that women are the primary conduits of the Life Force. They are the practical, biological realists who ensure the continuation and improvement of the species. Furthermore, her pursuit of Tanner is not based on simple affection. She recognizes that his brilliant mind, combined with her vitality, will produce superior offspring. Ann’s mission is to fulfill the biological imperative, making her one of the most compelling and modern characters in theatrical history.
John Tanner: The Reluctant Superman
John Tanner is a wealthy intellectual, a self-proclaimed revolutionary, and the author of “The Revolutionist’s Handbook.” He sees through the hypocrisies of modern society and champions radical freedom. Ironically, he is completely blind to the true force governing his own life. He believes he is a master of his own destiny. Yet, he is the primary target of Ann and, by extension, the Life Force.
His intellectual rebellion provides the play’s comedic and philosophical tension. Tanner lectures endlessly about freedom while being steadily ensnared by Ann’s matrimonial trap. His witty dialogue and philosophical speeches are a defense mechanism against the biological reality he refuses to accept. Ultimately, his surrender to Ann is not a romantic defeat. It is an acknowledgment that the intellectual man must unite with the vital woman to serve a purpose greater than himself. His capture ensures the Life Force’s work continues. The play’s action suggests that individual rebellion accounts for a small fraction of human motivation compared to biological drives.