REINVENTING SHAW: THE CHANGING RELEVANCE OF BERNARD SHAWS PLAYS ACROSS GENERATIONS

Bernard Shaw remained one of the most provocative and influential playwrights in modern theatre. His works have remained relevant not because they present fixed truths, but because they have been continually reinterpreted across generations. While Shaw originally shocked Victorian audiences with critiques of class, capitalism, and morality, later periods reframed his plays through evolving cultural and intellectual concerns.This study examined how the relevance of Shaws plays changed over time, focusing on Pygmalion, Major Barbara, and Mrs. Warrens Profession. A comparative analysis of these works across different historical contexts revealed shifting interpretations-Pygmalion evolved from a critique of class mobility to a feminist and social media-era discourse on self-reinvention, Major Barbara became a lens for analyzing corporate power and philanthropy, and Mrs. Warrens Profession continued to reflect contemporary debates on womens economic struggles.The findings indicated that Shaws continued relevance resulted from the adaptability of his themes, which allowed each generation to reinterpret his plays through its own social and moral contradictions. Ultimately, his theatre remained a powerful tool for provoking debate, ensuring its significance in modern discourse.