Describe the theme of marriage in Arms and the Man.

Shaw's play Arms and the Man is a
romantic comedy that satirizes idealized notions of love and war.  At the beginning of
the play, Raina is betrothed to Sergius--a soldier in the Bulgarian army.  He is
handsome, well-to-do, upper class--all that Raina's family expects her husband to
be.

However, it is Bluntschli, the mercenary soldier who
hides in her room, that convinces her that not only are Raina's ideas of war unrealistic
and impractical, but also her ideas of love are false.  Raina falls for the more
practical, experienced Bluntschli.  Raina's love for Bluntschli portrays Shaw's idea of
class distinctions.  In matters of love, social class should not be a factor.  At the
end of the play, Sergia is to marry Louka, Raina's servant.  Again, Shaw emphasizes that
it is important to follow one's heart in matters of love, not social or familial
expectations.