Shaw, George Bernard (1856-1950) Irish playwright. After a false start as
a novelist, Shaw gained a reputation as a critic. He began writing dramas in
1885 and by the turn of the century he established himself as a force in the
theater. He is as well-known for his eccentricities as he is for his plays.
Caesar and Cleopatra (1898) In this play the title characters are depicted
not in the romantic Shakespearean light, but in a realistic manner. Caesar
appears bald and aging, while Cleopatra is presented as an immature teen.
