"Man and Superman" is a play of ideas in which Shaw expresses his ideas and different outlooks. He talks about a hero, a manly figure, who is very useful for the generation to come. In this respect Octavius is a foil to the hero, as he possesses all that is opposite to Shaw's idea of a true hero. In other words, Octavius is an antihero in Shaw's play "Man and Superman". Though he is very attractive and amiable, the idea he holds makes him an unsuccessful man.
Octavius is an Embodiment of Shaw's Concept of Anti-Hero:
Octavius lacks revolutionary zeal in heart. He possesses the old values and he has not the boldness to come out of conventional ideas. Whereas Tanner introduces himself as a revolutionary character, Octavius remains a passive and inactive character. He never steps forward to shatter conventions and established traditions. He even never wants to speak about his purpose. He keeps himself in safe distance from Tanner. He cannot stand by his sister Violet when it is exposed that she is burdened with a child and she is not married yet.
Tanner comes forward saying that she is serving the greatest purpose of humanity. Even then Octavius cannot make himself free for conventional ideas. Shaw hates this kind of man who is woman and is not brave and courageous.
Octavius cannot make himself an agent of Life Force pursues woman like a romantic. He is not that type of man who can selected as an agent of life Force. He adores Ann and can not think that woman can be harmful to man's success. He is not mentally strong enough to serve the purpose. Only for this Ann refuses him as he is not suitable to be a father of a superman. He does not possess the heroic quality in him as he cannot come out of conventions and make himself an exceptional human being. He remains simple, non-revolutionary and completely a common man.
Thus Octovius is a contrastive figure with regards to Shaw's idea of a hero. Shaw wants a change where individual personality can play a vital role and Octavius is a failure in this respect, as he has no reformative zeal. He is afraid of taking risk and even saying anything against convention. Octavius is a very simple man with a mild heart. In "Man and Superman", Octavius is an antihero, as he belongs to that type of men who oppose any change in the society.
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