Shaw's Man and Superman and the Don Juan Legend

Abstract

As seen from the point of view of the dramatist Bernard Shaw, Don Juan is portrayed in his play Man and Superman as a public figure of a womanizer who has appeared in multiple literary works. Ultimately, it tells the story of Superman in terms of the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. By illuminating the thought of Superman, the author seeks to discover the significance of the myth of Don Juan. This study shows that John Tanner, the play's hero, and Don Juan Tenorio are two characters merged into one character. The two characters represent the idea of Superman from different points of view. Through his permissiveness in his everyday life, John Tanner shows his thoughts about Superman. John Tanner is the embodiment of the Superman idea. He is a modified version of Superman. In the meantime, Don Juan Tenorio has become the spokesperson for the Superman idea. His image of Superman reflects Nietzsche's idealized perception. In the long dialogue during the hell scene, he discusses the idea of Superman. Don Juan Tenorio represents what Superman thinks, whereas John Tanner represents what Superman does.