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Cashel Byron's Profession   By: (1856-1950)

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In Bernard Shaw's novel, Cashel Byron's Profession, readers are thrust into the compelling world of the eponymous protagonist, whose journey from a bare-knuckle fighter to a high society horse-racing celebrity offers a nuanced exploration of societal values, moral dilemmas, and class distinctions.

From the outset, Shaw's sharp wit and distinct voice shine through, as he presents a biting critique of the Victorian era's rigid class structure. The novel follows Cashel Byron, a working-class young man with tremendous physical strength and raw talent in the boxing ring. Shaw skillfully unravels Cashel's transformation from a pugilistic underdog to a celebrated horse-jockey, utilizing this protagonist as a platform to portray the hypocrisy of a society that adores his prowess in the ring but scorns his loyal companionship once he enters the ranks of the upper class.

One of the novel's central themes is the deceptive allure of wealth and status. Shaw aptly highlights the societal double standards that enable the upper class to exploit lower-class individuals for entertainment or gain. Cashel's rise to fame, shaped by the interest of a prominent lady of society, Lydia Carew, is a particularly illustrative example. Shaw exposes the inherent power dynamics in their relationship, underlining how those in positions of privilege exploit those beneath them, placing their own self-interest above all else.

Furthermore, Shaw skillfully delves into the moral quandaries faced by both his protagonist and the supporting characters. Whether it is Cashel questioning the ethics of his profession, or the upper class grappling with their own hypocrisy, the novel offers readers an insightful examination of the consequences of moral compromise. Shaw's characters are layered and multidimensional, allowing readers to empathize with their struggles and dilemmas.

However, some readers may find the novel's pace to be uneven at times, with certain sections dragging while others rush through crucial developments. Additionally, Shaw's verbose writing style can be overwhelming at points and may necessitate patience from readers.

Ultimately, Cashel Byron's Profession is a thought-provoking and incisive exploration of societal norms, class divisions, and moral dilemmas. Shaw's astute observations and sharp wit make for a highly entertaining and intellectually stimulating read. This novel is not just a critique of the Victorian era, but a poignant reflection on the enduring human tendency towards prejudice, exploitation, and the corrupting influence of wealth and power.

First Page:

Cashel Byron's Profession

By

George Bernard Shaw

PROLOGUE

I

Moncrief House, Panley Common. Scholastic establishment for the sons of gentlemen, etc.

Panley Common, viewed from the back windows of Moncrief House, is a tract of grass, furze and rushes, stretching away to the western horizon.

One wet spring afternoon the sky was full of broken clouds, and the common was swept by their shadows, between which patches of green and yellow gorse were bright in the broken sunlight. The hills to the northward were obscured by a heavy shower, traces of which were drying off the slates of the school, a square white building, formerly a gentleman's country house. In front of it was a well kept lawn with a few clipped holly trees. At the rear, a quarter of an acre of land was enclosed for the use of the boys. Strollers on the common could hear, at certain hours, a hubbub of voices and racing footsteps from within the boundary wall. Sometimes, when the strollers were boys themselves, they climbed to the coping, and saw on the other side a piece of common trampled bare and brown, with a few square yards of concrete, so worn into hollows as to be unfit for its original use as a ball alley. Also a long shed, a pump, a door defaced by innumerable incised inscriptions, the back of the house in much worse repair than the front, and about fifty boys in tailless jackets and broad, turned down collars... Continue reading book >>




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