Problem Play

Definition

A Problem play is a type of drama which has a contemporary social problem at its
center, often faced by the protagonist. The play usually offers a solution to the issue that
opposes the dominant societal opinion.

It often uses a character who represents the author’s voice and provides the solution
as the plot progresses. The issues or problems raised in the plays can be related to any
relevant contemporary and pressing social, political, or moral subject matter.

Major Problem Playwrights

1. T. W. Roberston
2. H. A. Jones
3. Henrik Ibsen
4. John Galsworthy
5. George Bernard Shaw

Origin of Problem Plays

Previously, problem plays were in the form of realistic plays. When romantic and
historical themes turned their way to family themes, they gave way to problem plays. T. W.
Roberston’s works are considerable from this point. Later, H. A. Jones and Pinero under the
influence of T. W. Roberston, prepared themselves to write new dramas of ideas and social
purpose. In the nineties, Henrik Ibsen gave great impetus to the realistic movement and
then John Galsworthy and George Bernard Shaw carried this serious drama to domestic,
social and personal themes.

Now, natural dialogue, new psychological investigations and a distinct plot reinforced
the interest of the readers and audience. The problem play was established as the drama of
the early twentieth century.

Elements of Problem Play

1. High Technical Skill

2. Theme through Action and Dialogue
3. Tackling Ordinary Human Problems
4. Thought and Action
5. Presentation of Interesting Man and Woman
1. High Technical Skill

Problem play needs high technical skill and ability. Being a new experiment in
dramaturgy, it totally discarded the traditional craftsmanship. The problem playwrights do not
set aside the plot construction, but attempt to unfold social, political and family issues. The
problem playwright also observes the unities of time, place and action to maintain economy
and structural compactness to enforce his theme.

2. Theme through Action and Dialogue

Although problem playwrights express the themes through action and dialogue, they
do not adopt the conventional devices and transform them to a great extent. They give a
new meaning and an entirely new significance to their themes.

3. Tackling with Ordinary Human Problems

These plays deal with the ordinary humdrum of life. The problem playwright regards
life as unheroic and avoids romantic extravagance and coveys the effect of these common
incidents by pauses, gestures, trivial actions and glances.

4. Thought and Action

Overpowering thought and action are often regarded as more effective than physical
action. Problem playwrights concentrate chiefly on psychological conflict resulted from the
problems of social life.

Example -

In Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, the action is psychological rather than physical.

5. Presentation of Interesting Man and Woman

Problem play portrays interesting individuals and complex specimens of humanity.

His characters are from courts, offices, homes and workshops who have serious concerns
about the society in which they live but unfortunately either they are opposed or victimised
by society

Characterisation

Problem play also envelops characters and themes equally like other plays but they
cannot treat it in the abstract without giving an account of concrete situations and living man
and woman. The characters of these plays are -

1. Natural
2. Complex
3. Immortal
4. Realistic
 Ibsen’s characters are not ’embodied humours’ but seriously they are natural and
complex personalities and ideas are treated as abstract characters. Most of the characters
are gifted with extraordinary vitality and are almost alive in the world in which they live.

Artistic Devices

Problem play never discards artistic devices. In fact, they used these devices to have
a deep impact on the minds of readers on religious, political and social issues. These plays
are regarded as propaganda plays as Shaw himself believed that all great art or literature is
propaganda.

In order to present his point of view before readers, the problem playwrights
introduced a raisonneur who becomes a philosophic spectator for the whole play and is
considered as the recognised representative of the playwright.

The dialogues of the raisonneur have superior wisdom and his statements have
peculiar authority to penetrate the minds of readers with wisdom. Like the Greek chorus, he
assesses the problem given by the playwright and clears the playwright’s opinion for readers
or audience. It gives an impartial representation of conflict in society and cannot be called a
treatise for propagating the principles of life.

Problem Play Examples

1. T. W. Roberston - 1. Society
2. Caste
3. Play
4. School

2. Henrik Ibsen - 1. The Doll’s House,

2. An Enemy of the People
3. Ghost

3. George Bernard Shaw - 1. Candida,

2. Apple Cart,
3. The Widower’s House

Conclusion

‘Problem play was Cinderella of the dramatic art’

- W.R. Goodman

so it cannot be regarded as an inferior art form as it answered the various critical

problems of the time. It also fulfilled the requirement of a high level of craftsmanship and
dramatic art.