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Revision as of 01:56, 9 June 2006 by MakeRocketGoNow (talk | contribs) (recat)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Androcles and the Lion is a 1912 play written by George Bernard Shaw.
Androcles and the Lion is Shaw's retelling of the tale of Androcles, a slave who is saved by the requited mercy of a lion. In the play, Shaw makes Androcles out to be one of many Christians being led to the Colosseum for torture. Characters in the play exemplify several themes and takes on both modern and supposed early Christianity, including cultural clash between Jesus' teachings and traditional Roman values.
The short play is often printed with a preface that includes a long examination of the Gospels by Shaw, in which Shaw analyzes the Bible and proclaims his findings wherein. In summary, Shaw states that Jesus was a benevolent genius (in areas ranging from moral to social to economical) who eventually bought into popular ideas of his divinity and impending martyrdom. Shaw goes on to state that the teachings of Jesus were lost with his crucifixion, and that following churches actually worship Paul or Barabbas.
The play has themes of martyrdom and persecution which are portrayed through the vehicle of comedy. In the play, Shaw uses slapstick humour, verbal wit and physical humour to portray his themes.
A version was published using the Shavian alphabet (1962 Penguin Books, London).
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