Mrs. Warren's Profession
'Mrs. Warren's Profession ' Summary
Vivie Warren, a thoroughly modern young woman, has just graduated from the University of Cambridge with honours in Mathematics (equal Third Wrangler), and is available for suitors. Her mother, Mrs. Warren (her name changed to hide her identity and give the impression that she is married), arranges for her to meet her friend Mr. Praed, a middle-aged, handsome architect, at the home where Vivie is staying. Mrs. Warren arrives with her business partner, Sir George Crofts, who is attracted to Vivie despite their 25-year age difference. Vivie is romantically involved with the youthful Frank Gardner, who sees her as his meal ticket. His father, the (married) Reverend Samuel Gardner, has a history with Vivie's mother. As we discover later, he may be Vivie's out-of-wedlock father, which would make Vivie and Frank half-siblings. Mrs. Warren successfully justifies to her daughter how she chose her particular profession in order to support her daughter and give her the opportunities she never had. She saved enough money to buy into the business with her sister, and she now owns (with Sir George) a chain of brothels across Europe. Vivie is, at first, horrified by the revelation, but then lauds her mother as a champion. However, the reconciliation ends when Vivie finds out that her mother continues to run the business even though she no longer needs to. Vivie takes an office job in the city and dumps Frank, vowing she will never marry. She disowns her mother, and Mrs. Warren is left heartbroken, having looked forward to growing old with her daughter.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1893Author
George Bernard Shaw
Ireland & England
Born in Dublin, Shaw moved to London in 1876, where he struggled to establish himself as a writer and novelist, and embarked on a rigorous process of self-education. By the mid-1880s he had become a r...
More on George Bernard ShawDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
The Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov
Three Sisters is a play by the Russian author and playwright Anton Chekhov. It was written in 1900 and first performed in 1901 at the Moscow Art Theat...
There are Crimes and Crimes by August Strindberg
Maurice, a playwright on the brink of success, feels so confident in his professional future he proposes to Jeanne, his mistress. However, upon meetin...
Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus
Seven Against Thebes is the third play in an Oedipus-themed trilogy produced by Aeschylus in 467 BC. The trilogy is sometimes referred to as the Oedip...
Favourite Scenes From Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
Immerse yourself in the world of Shakespeare's theatrical genius with "Favourite Scenes From Shakespeare," a captivating collection of the Bard's most...
Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde
Lady Windermere's Fan, A Play About a Good Woman is a four-act comedy by Oscar Wilde, first performed on Saturday, 20 February 1892, at the St James's...
The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare
The Comedy of Errors is one of William Shakespeare's early plays. It is his shortest and one of his most farcical comedies, with a major part of the h...
Pelléas and Mélisande by Maurice Maeterlinck
In a mysterious and enchanting land, two souls entwined by fate embark on a haunting journey of love and destiny. Explore the ethereal world of "Pellé...
The Duchess of Padua by Oscar Wilde
The Duchess of Padua is a play by Oscar Wilde. It is a five-act tragedy set in Padua and written in blank verse. It was written for the actress Mary A...
Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare
The Life of Timon of Athens is a play by William Shakespeare about the fortunes of an Athenian named Timon (and probably influenced by the philosopher...
Breaking Winnie; A Comedy in Three Acts by Carl Webster Pierce
In the uproarious world of "Breaking Winnie: A Comedy in Three Acts" by Carl Webster Pierce, mischief and merriment take center stage, promising a del...
Reviews for Mrs. Warren's Profession
No reviews posted or approved, yet...