Interlude

The Interlude in The Apple Cart

1. Introduction

The Interlude is an important part of Bernard Shaw’s political play The Apple Cart. It appears between the First and Second Acts. Its inclusion in the play has been a subject of controversy among critics. Some critics consider it unnecessary because it seems to be disconnected from the main political story. However, it is important for understanding King Magnus’s private life, his character, and his views on marriage and human relationships.

2. The Story of the Interlude

The Interlude presents a meeting between King Magnus and his mistress, Orinthia. Orinthia is a beautiful and ambitious woman who wants to replace Queen Jemima and become the Queen. She believes that she is more attractive than Jemima and compares herself to a rose, while she describes Jemima as a cabbage.

However, King Magnus refuses to leave his wife. He explains that Orinthia and Jemima have different roles in his life. He loves the beauty and companionship of Orinthia, but his relationship with Jemima is based on marriage, respect, and responsibility. He believes that every person has a particular place and role in life. Therefore, Orinthia cannot take Jemima’s place.

3. The Interlude as a Part of the Play’s Structure

The Interlude is placed between the First and Second Acts. At the end of the First Act, a serious political conflict arises between King Magnus and his Cabinet. The King needs time to think about the situation and decide what to do. The Interlude provides a break in the political action and gives the audience relief from the tension.

It also changes the atmosphere of the play. Instead of political discussions, the audience sees a personal conversation between the King and Orinthia. Thus, the Interlude acts as a dramatic pause and helps the play move towards the next stage of the story.

4. Characterisation of King Magnus

The Interlude is important because it reveals another side of King Magnus’s personality. In the main story, he appears as a wise, powerful, and politically intelligent ruler. In the Interlude, we see him as a husband, a lover, and an ordinary human being.

He enjoys Orinthia’s company because it gives him a break from the responsibilities of kingship, his family, and his Cabinet. However, he does not allow his attraction to Orinthia to destroy his marriage. He respects Queen Jemima and refuses to make Orinthia the Queen. Thus, the Interlude presents Magnus as a complex character who balances his personal desires with his duties.

5. Marriage and Human Relationships

The Interlude presents Shaw’s views on marriage and relationships. King Magnus explains that Jemima and Orinthia have different places in his life. He believes that being a wife is different from being a lover. He does not consider one woman superior to the other; rather, he believes that each has a different role.

Magnus also compares human relationships to stars in the sky. Every star has its own orbit, and a collision occurs when two stars leave their proper paths. In the same way, people should respect each other’s boundaries. He considers good manners and mutual respect necessary for peaceful human relationships.

6. Dramatic Importance of the Interlude

Although the Interlude appears unrelated to the political theme, it has considerable dramatic importance. It provides comic relief after the serious political conflict. It also gives the audience a better understanding of King Magnus’s private life and personality.

Moreover, Orinthia’s desire to replace Jemima reflects her ambition to gain power over the King. However, she fails to achieve her aim. In this sense, the idea of upsetting the established order is connected with the central image of the apple cart. The Interlude therefore has a connection with the main theme of the play, even though it does not directly advance the political action.

7. Conclusion

To conclude, the Interlude is a significant part of The Apple Cart. Though some critics consider it unnecessary to the main political plot, it provides a valuable background to King Magnus’s private life. It offers comic relief, develops character, and presents Shaw’s ideas about marriage, individual roles, and human relationships. Thus, the Interlude may seem separate from the main action, but it enriches the play through its humour, realism, and characterisation.