"Plays Unpleasant" is a collection of three plays by George Bernard Shaw, published originally in 1898. Shaw labeled them "unpleasant" because he intended them to confront audiences with uncomfortable truths and social problems, rather than provide light entertainment. The three plays and their central themes are:
"Widowers' Houses" (1892): This play attacks the hypocrisy surrounding wealth and social respectability. It exposes how the seemingly respectable Mr. Sartorius derives his wealth from exploiting the poor as a slum landlord. The play follows the disillusionment of a young idealist, Harry Trench, who falls in love with Sartorius's daughter, Blanche, only to discover the morally tainted source of their income. It questions whether one can maintain moral integrity while benefiting from social injustices.
"The Philanderer" (1893): This satirical comedy explores the complexities and often hypocritical attitudes towards relationships, marriage, and the "New Woman" of the late 19th century. It centers on Leonard Charteris, a charming but commitment-phobic man who juggles relationships with two very different women, Julia Craven and Grace Tranfield. The play humorously dissects the "philandering" male and the societal expectations placed on both men and women in romantic entanglements, while also mocking the intellectual fads of the time, represented by the Ibsen Club.
"Mrs Warren's Profession" (1893, but banned from public performance in Britain until 1902): This play is perhaps the most overtly "unpleasant" of the three, as it directly addresses the issue of prostitution. It tells the story of Vivie Warren, a bright young woman who discovers that her mother's wealth and the comfortable life she provided were earned through managing a chain of brothels across Europe. The play avoids sensationalism and instead examines the economic and social forces that drive women into prostitution, questioning the hypocrisy of a society that condemns the "fallen woman" while profiting from her existence and offering few viable alternatives. It raises uncomfortable questions about morality, economic necessity, and the responsibility of society in perpetuating such social ills.