CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. CRISIS HAPPNED
3. CHARACTER SKETCH OF MAGNUS
4. CONCLUSION
Introduction of the book “The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza”, by George Bernard
Shaw
The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza is a 1928 play by George Bernard Shaw. It is
a satirical comedy abou several political philosophies which are expounded by the characters,
often in lengthy monologues. The plot follows the fictional English King Magnus as he spars
with, and ultimately outwits, Prime Minister Proteus and his cabinet, who seek to strip the
monarchy of its remaining political influence. Magnus opposes the corporation "Breakages,
Limited", which controls politicians and impedes technical progress.
Shaw's preface describes the play as:
...a comedy in which a King defeats an attempt by his popularly elected Prime Minister to
deprive him of the right to influence public opinion through the press and the platform: in
short, to reduce him to a cipher. The King's reply is that rather than be a cipher he will
abandon his throne and take his obviously very rosy chance of becoming a popularly elected
Prime Minister himself.
The play was completed in December 1928 and first performed in Warsaw (in Polish) the
following June. Its English première was at the first Malvern Drama Festival in August 1929.
The Apple Cart (1928) Shaw was principally concerned with an analysis of ideal personal
distinction, and he attempted to show how his protagonist, King Magnus, is as truly great as
his Latinate name would imply. In the Shavian view, the individual's pre-eminence results
from the wealth and variety of his resources and from his independent moral strength which
he can evince both in crisis and in the conditions of ordinary life.
Crisis in the play “The Apple Cart”
The apple cart in the play stands for the huge democratic machinery in England where the
government is supposed to be carried on by the parliamentary majority. There is the
constitutional King to give his sanction to the actions of the Legislature and the Cabinet. It is
the prerogative of the king to veto any act or proposal which is not in the intrest of the nation.
Prime minister Joe Proteus and his Cabinet make a plan to deprive the king of his power of
veto. They to reduce the king to a mere rubber-stamp. So they present an ultimatum to the
king. It lays down three conditions (a) the king should no more make any public speeches. (b)
He should not refer to his royal veto in
King magnus is too clever for the cabinet . He has an ace of trump in his hand and knows
how and when to play it. He upsets the apple cart of the cabinet by threatening to abdicate
and by contesting election as a common man. He declares that he will form a part. As a leader
of his party he will become the prime Minister and replace Proteus.
Proteus and his cabinet colleagues are taken aback at the king’s decision. Proteus feels that
his prime ministership is in danger. He takes back the ultimatum from the king and tears it
into pieces. He then declares,“There is not going to be any abdication. There is not going to
be any general election. There is not going to be any ultimatum we go on as before.”
1. Character sketch of the King Magnus
Magnus is the hero of the play The Apple Cart. Magnus is one of the very few living and
perfect characters created by Shaw. He is very witty, clever, humrous and cool-headed.
He is tallish, studious looking gentleman of about forty five. He has a very charming and
attractive personality.
King Magnus possesses rare tact and political wisdom. He knows how to face a crisis.
The biggest crisis comes when his Cabinet Ministers give him an ultimatum that he must
not refer to his veto power. He must not make any public speeches. He must not instigate
the public the Press against the Ministers. Magnus handles the situation very cleverly and
upsets the apple cart of Cabinet. He proves more than a match for his Ministers.
2. Conclusion
King Magnus wants to discuss of the merger. But, Proteus asks him firmly: “What about the
Ultimatum, sir? You promised your decision at 5 o’ clock. It is now quarter past. ” Proteus is
a beings. He has found out that Magnus is as artful as the devil Similarly he knows that is to
threten to resign Thus whenever he finds things getting out of control he plays his trump
card- his threat to resign Proteus handles the members of his Cabinet successfully only
because he understands their, He them at the most proper time.
