Mourning Agnes: The Hidden Impact on Bernard Shaw of the Death of His Sister

Abstract

abstract:We know very little about Bernard Shaw's sister Elinor Agnes beyond that she died from consumption just shy of twenty-two years of age. Shaw spoke so little of her, revealing so little of his feelings for her, that we might wonder how important Agnes was to him and how her death affected him. Searching for what is known of Agnes led to a number of clues suggesting a close bond existed between Shaw and his sister. Shaw's silence regarding the dates of the deaths of his sisters Lucy and Agnes speaks of unresolved mourning and complicated grief. What led Shaw to so protect himself from the emotional pain it appears he experienced from death and loss? Importantly, it appears that Shaw's memories of Agnes and his wishes for her contributed to the creation of his iconic young heroines.