Formation of Mother-Daughters’Relational Self in George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs. Warren’s Profession

Abstract

The research paper inquires how Shaw presents the influence of the mother on her daughter till adulthood. Shaw, through the play, portrays the deep mutual identification by presenting two alike bodies, mother and daughter, to depart from the ongoing tradition of father-son dynasties or father-daughter relations. On the foundation of psychoanalytical feminism by Nancy Chodorow, the research investigates the issues that arise out of generational differences to seek mutuality and conflict between mother and daughter. The study argues that Shaw focuses on the ego formation of the daughter, not with the father but the mother plays a vital role in shaping the daughter's ego. However, Shaw urges the audience to reconsider the issue hinting sense of relational self develops in her daughter when there is intense identification with her mother. The research concludes that Shaw's play succeeds in portraying mother-daughter relations built on sameness, continuity, and identification. Keywords: gender, selfhood, womanhood, and the relational self