Political Drama: The Apple Cart

George Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin on 26th July 1856.He was an Irishman, the son of
George Carr Shaw. His father was the youngest son in a family of thirteen children. His father
was a minor officer in the Dublin law court. Mother was an Irish landowner.His father was
drunkard and couldn’t earn enough money for the family. Carr Shaw had three children: one
son and two daughters. Bernard Shaw learnt music from their mother who was a good singer
and musician. He himself became a clerk and cashier in a land agent’s office. At the age of
73,Bernard Shaw wrote The Apple Cart, and its first performance was at the Polish
theatre,Warsaw in june,1929.Being a bag of stage tricks, Shaw has subtitled it ‘A Political
Extravaganza’.There is hardly any plot in it. Shaw has made up for the deficiency of the story
by introducing two interesting and exciting incidents the interlude and interruption of the true
American Ambassador in the scene. Both these incidents are wholly irrelevant in the play.

Plot of the drama

Shaw’s play ‘The Apple Cart’(1929) not only combines the realm of political satire and
futuristic visions but is still amazingly topical and accurate in its predictions(shaw has placed
the drama in a removed time-forty years in the future).The plot primarily exists as a
framework for Shaw’s satire.In the first half we meet two of the king’s secretaries who
introduce the general setup of the play.Then follows a long interview between the king of
England,Magnus and the Labour leader,Mr.Boanerges.The first half culminates(develops)in a
stormy meeting of the king,prime minister and cabinet during which the prime minister gives
the king the ultimatum to remain as king with no power whatsoever, without even a veto, or
else the cabinet will resign in mass.At the centre of the play is an extended interview between
the king and his ambitious mistress Orinthia,a model of everything a ruler should not be,no
matter how alluring(attracting).After this,the play parallels the first half with the introduction
of Jemina,the king’s United States wishes to rejoin the Commonwealth. This part is certainly
an amazingly imaginary interesting prediction.The second half culminates in another stormy
cabinet meeting during which the king answers the ultimatum with one of his own,declaring
his own abdication from kingship and forming a political party and taking participation in the
election so that he can win and form a cabinet under his primeministership.The king’s
ultimatum is so forceful in nature that the cabinet,particularly Proteus,the Prime minister
withdraws the ultimatum.Thus,the play ends without any particular result,except the
resolution of the political crisis between the king and the cabinet

Significance of the title ‘The Apple Cart’

George Bernard Shaw has taken the title ‘The Apple Cart’ to signify the condition of the
government under a certain leader,or rather a strong man.’The Apple Cart’ consists of a driver
and lots of apples being carried on the cart.The cabinet of ministers functions the same role of
the Apple Cart.In the play,there is a tussle between the king and the prime minister(Proteus)
as well as other ministers.It is to decide who will drive the ApplenCart(government)-king
Magnus or the prime minister Proteus.Both of them are stronger in their position. King
Magnus is rather wise and clever than PM Proteus.It is true that if two men are on the same
horse riding,only one is allowed to sit on the front.But the question arise who will sit on the
front?In case of resignation from any one of them,it may upset the cart.The title itself is
remarkable for political significance.Proteus plans the ‘Ace of trumps’,i.e. the threat of
abdication.In fact,both of them know that they have to keep on driving the cart
anyway.Shaw,in his preface,has said for the background of the play.One of his friends,who
was an engineer,proposed to transport all the breakages in cheap price if the government
assented.The government,instead of giving the tender of the work to him,passed the tender of
other person at expensive price.This company was The Breakages Limited.Therefore,Shaw
suggests here by the Apple Cart that in a democratic system the government is simply a cart
which is used by the prime minister in benefits of own interests.There is no interest of
running the cart wisely and with honour of the nation.The cart is full demagogues(politicians)
who humbug the public and all the time they try to upset the cart.

Characterization:
1.King Magnus:The king Magnus is a wise man.His wisdom is perceived throughout the
play.There has been crisis after crises,but he has been able to tackle all of them actually.The
king is well known for his tactics.The new minister Mr.Boanerges has heard about him,but
yet he is highly persuaded by the cordial approach.The king is the most prominent character
in the play.He is most dominant and magnificent character.He has been described to be the
tallish studious looking gentleman of 45 or thereabouts.His etiquette manner is very
skeptical.Boanerges says that the ceremony cuts no ice with him.Yet he is deceived.The king
has the upper hand.The king has good experience of politics.He has strong insight and better
foresight.For him,a king or any official is only an India rubber stamp,but not wholly ,because
he or she is a living soul too.So this theory breaks down in every real emergency.He knows
that everybody flatters the king,and often he is made a scapegoat and puppet.Though a king
has less power than a republican,his position is secure.He is quite clever to impress the new
minister by introducing him with the princess.That’s the popular tactics known to the
ministers,too.They laugh when they hear about the introduction .Proteus says that the king is
as artful as the very devil.He is a superior player in the cards game(i.e. politics).Magnus has
been exercising the constitutional right of royal veto too.But it becomes a crisis from the
cabinet side.He believes that the royal veto is essential for check of any danger,but that is
opposed by the ministers.Magnus shows the corruption that often happens in offices,but
others ignore.They wish to make the king totally dumb and disabled by the means of
ultimatum.The king,very skillfully and diplomatically,diverts the case to the parliamentary
decision whether they will approve of cabinet government or monarchical government.He
persuades the ministers that certainly he will lose the favor.He speaks splendidly to convince
them advantages and disadvantages of different political systems as well as human
attitudes.He plays with the affairs of Orinthia just like a young lover,but never lets her have
upper hand.He proves his strong devotion to his married queen though she may be a
cabbage,not rose,in opinion of Orinthia.He loves his nation with true soul that we can see
when he refuses to shift the throne to Dublin.He has victory over the crisis,not by greater
astuteness,but because he has the ace of trumps in his hand and knows when to play it.The
king stands for royal dignity,respectability and tactics.

2.The Prime minister proteus:Proteus is a fool and very aggressive personality in the play.He
has been subdued by the corruptive attitudes of the ministers.As all the ministers are indulged
in unacceptable and disgustive manners of tempers,bullyings,sneerings,swearing,kickings and
vulgar other activities,the prime minister is seen as useless horsetamer.No any horses are in
his command.He is over ambitious for power.That’s why Proteus and Boanerges argue
sometimes for power.He is conscious of the king’s tactics,and tries to overcome him.He often
threatens for resignation,and tries to hold the situation in his favour.Crisis, ultimatum and
bitter and sometimes unreasonable arguments are brought ahead to reduce the king’s power to
the India rubber stamp.Magnus flatters him,and makes him believe that he is really
superior.Proteus often becomes the subject of hysterics.He holds his claim that there mst be
restriction in the king’s side.He loses no opportunity of disparaging the throne’once for all’.His
counter article in newspaper usually brings a crisis against the king. Proteus has over
confidence and as he has defeated all other parties and while the country was run by the
king,he wants to bring the king into his confidence.But he has no right sense of right decision
in right time.He is proved as democratic humbug,not responsible to the king,the public or the
kingdom.Solution of the crisis is not brought out in the hall,but walking out in tempers and
having private discussion.Private meeting and talk with king Magnus in the second act of the
play brings up the resolution.The king and the prime minister’s privacy is scandalous.Magnus
believes that Proteus is clever fellow and he is to beat him,but it would give him no
satisfaction to beat him.This statement reveals Proteus’s true nature.There is cynical tone that
he is really very foolish.He is responsible for going to upset the Apple Cart.Finally,he is
easily defeated.The game turns in favour of the tactful king.The same threat of resignation,arc
of trumps applied by Proteus is used by the king in turn.Proteus realizes that the king is able
to make a treachery in the scene,and therefore,he surrenders himself.He tears out the
ultimation and quits the meeting. Also face the election rather than staying as weak and dumb
king.He also surrenders himself helplessly.