Beschreibung:

SHAW, George Bernard (1865-1950). Autograph letter signed ('G. Bernard Shaw') to Georgia Pearl Foster, 29 Fitzroy Square, London, W., 27 August 1895 , replying to her letter commenting on The Quintessence of Ibsenism , and expounding his views on 'the domestic' and 'the undomestic woman' and the advantages of the latter, 'I therefore am strongly of the opinion that the undomestic woman, when she has once secured her position by escaping from domestic servitude as men escape from unskilled labour: that is, by mastering a trade or profession, can maintain her own individuality to the full extent of her own strength ... with infinitely less difficulty than the domestic woman', and reminding Miss Foster to fight for the interests of the latter, 3 pages, 8° (on light paper). An interesting letter summarising Shaw's views on the emancipation of women. His correspondent, a young actress in New York, had written to express her admiration of his long essay on aspects of Ibsenism. 'You call yourself an undomestic woman; but I suggest to you that a lack of aptitude for household management is too negative a qualification to take an effective stand upon. A positive aptitude for something else is better'. Women in the professions or business, he continues, delegate their domestic duties. But a woman's valuable domestic services are unrecognised and unrewarded by her husband, and she lacks all self-belief. He sees this lack of self-belief as the chief obstacle to her emancipation. The Quintessence of Ibsenism , an essay of over 150 pages, was published in 1891, two years after Shaw had seen the first London performance of The Doll's House . He mentions here his intention of expanding the chapter on 'The Womanly Woman', in which he discusses the ideal woman in a male-dominated society and urges her emancipation from the traditional concept of her duties. Although the letter gives Shaw's London address, it was in fact written at The Argoed, Monmouth, where he was spending the summer with Sidney and Beatrice Webb.