Shaw's perception of a modern woman is completely different from what was expected at the time. Vivie is his instrument for portraying this fact. He portrayed Vivie as someone who has a strong business and work ethic, who is unintrested in the capital gains of marriage and as being in control of her emotions. In this time period a woman with these qualities would be looked apon as "not proper." Vivie shows her clear cut business attitude while talking to Praed in act one about tieing with the third wrangler. One might think this would be a great achievement for a woman in this time period but Vivie saw it as only a business transaction. She said she was only trying to go for fourth wrangler, which she was being paid for, but accidentally scored higher. To further my point, she said if she wrote it again she would demand more money for her efforts. Also, Vivie explains her goals in lif
e to Praed as wanting to get a job in the city making calculations while secretly studying law. She also plans to "keep one eye on the stock market." This confirms her business like approach to life and her confidence in her self. This confidence probably explains why she did not have traditional views on marriage like that of her time. The views of this time are best portrayed by Mrs.Warren when she is preaching to Vivie about the importance of financial well being. "Not only to be able to support yourself Vivie, but so you can marry someone worthy," meaning someone who could afford you. Vivie however, does not show an intrest at all for marrying for money. She never said she couldn't be with Frank because he was broke but merely because of his attitude. It's other characters who believe Frank can't marry her because of his lack of funds. Shaw is poking fun at his time periods views
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