Burlesque
A burlesque is a satirical work of fiction that comically makes trivial situations seem important and makes important situations seem trivial.
Mrs. Eynsford Hill: "You really are very helpless Freddy. Go again and dont come back until you have found a cab."
Freddy: "I shall simply get soaked for nothing."
Clara: "...Are we to stay here in this draught, with next to nothing on? You selfish pig- "
Freddy: "Oh, very well: I'll go, I'll go."
(Shaw 12-13, Act I)
Specifically, high burlesque is used here because the insignificant act of finding a taxi is portrayed as a dramatic event. Mrs. Eynsford Hill and Clara were so worried about remaining in the cold that they forced Freddy to get soaked in the rain to find a taxi. Burlesque scenes such as this one provide insight into Shaw's view of gender roles. Gentlemen were expected to have certain manners for women, but Shaw exaggerated this by having Clara respond to Freddy in such a rude manner. Freddy was being a gentleman and looking for a taxi in the rain, but Clara did not even thank her own brother for his efforts. If a man is being polite but cannot fulfill his actions because of something unpredictable like the weather, a woman should be appreciative of his endeavors. Instead, Clara calls her own brother a selfish pig.
Freddy: "I shall simply get soaked for nothing."
Clara: "...Are we to stay here in this draught, with next to nothing on? You selfish pig- "
Freddy: "Oh, very well: I'll go, I'll go."
(Shaw 12-13, Act I)
Specifically, high burlesque is used here because the insignificant act of finding a taxi is portrayed as a dramatic event. Mrs. Eynsford Hill and Clara were so worried about remaining in the cold that they forced Freddy to get soaked in the rain to find a taxi. Burlesque scenes such as this one provide insight into Shaw's view of gender roles. Gentlemen were expected to have certain manners for women, but Shaw exaggerated this by having Clara respond to Freddy in such a rude manner. Freddy was being a gentleman and looking for a taxi in the rain, but Clara did not even thank her own brother for his efforts. If a man is being polite but cannot fulfill his actions because of something unpredictable like the weather, a woman should be appreciative of his endeavors. Instead, Clara calls her own brother a selfish pig.