Mrs. Warren's Profession book club questions

The reading plan

Meeting 1: Parts 1 to 2

1. Should theatre aim to provoke thought rather than sensual excitement, as Shaw argues, or is that distinction too narrow?
2. What might make censorship protect the wrong plays, and who should decide which plays deserve protection?
3. How might Shaw's defense of his treatment of prostitution shape your expectations before the action begins?
4. What would you want from a play about prostitution for it to provoke thought rather than merely excitement?
5. How does seeing actors paired with roles affect the way you imagine a play before reading its action?

Meeting 2: Acts 1 to 2

6. What does Vivie's defense of her career plans suggest about how she wants others to treat her?
7. How might welcoming visitors while defending her career plans reveal competing demands on Vivie?
8. What expectations does the awkward recognition between Vivie's mother and Frank's father create, and how certain should readers feel about them?
9. How does the shift from marriage disputes to a private confrontation change the stakes of the conversation?
10. How much weight should poverty carry when judging the choices Vivie's mother defends?

Meeting 3: Acts 3 to 4

11. How should the rejected suitor's position affect the trust readers place in his revelations?
12. How does learning that the business is ongoing change the weight you give the mother's earlier defense?
13. What changes when the suitor moves from exposing a business to making a claim about parentage?
14. Is refusing her mother's money necessary for Vivie's independence, or could she set boundaries while accepting it?
15. Where would you draw the line between Vivie's right to independence and any obligations she might owe her mother?

Themes to talk about

Tips for the host

1. Open each meeting with one question everyone can answer, then go deeper.
2. Anyone who fell behind can catch up with the 15-minute summary.