The peculiarity of writing styles, diction, setting, plot and characterization makes it possible for someone to rewrite the ending story of another author differently.
Arms and the man written by BERNARD GEORGE SHAW published in 1898 was the best romantic comedy novel I read in college.
Background of the book
The play has a historical setting. It is set in Bulgaria of 1885 when Prince Alexander 1 of Bulgaria revolted against the Serbs and refused to pay compensation. The Serbs declared war against them but were defeated in the battle.
Characterisation
Raina Petkoff: Raina is a beautiful lady. She is twenty three years old but behaves like a school girl of seventeen. She is very romantic and appreciate beauty as she is seen in the opening scene;intensely conscious of the romantic beauty of the night, she has heroic ideas about love and marriage.
Catherine Petkoff: Is the mother of Raina and is very fond of her only Child.
Major Petkoff: Is the father of Raina,an amiable easy going man. Though he is a major but he is not knowledgeable in the military strategy and organization, so one can easily conclude that he does not merit his rank but earned it because of his social status in the town.
Major Sergius saranoff: Is a tall man. He is rich in their local estimation, he is Raina's romantic hero who fought for the Bulgarian side.
Captain Bluntschli: Swiss mercenary who fought on the side of the Serbs during the Serbian-Bulgarian war.
Louka: Raina's maid who fell in love with Sergius and later married him.
Nicola: Is a faithful servant, respectful and loyal hence he has served the Petkoff family for 10 years.
Book review
The play begins with Raina's reverie, dreaming of her fiance Sergius and how he led a victorious calvary charge against the enemy, meanwhile the Serbian forces who were defeated are on the run and chased by the Bulgarian.
One of the fugitive, Captain Bluntschli ran into Raina's bedroom and she protected him when the search party came in. Its funny to note that Captain Bluntschli who led the Serbian army preferred chocolate to bullet when he is at the war front, he told Raina that Sergius (Riana's fiance) and his calvary succeeded because someone forgot to supply ammunition to the Serbs at the appropriate time.
Raina saved Captain Bluntschli's life as he left in disguise, wearing Major petkoff's coat, this revelation was made towards the end of the play when Bluntschli returned the coat to Raina and her mother. The war ended, Raina's father Major Petkoff returned home with Sergius his daughters fiance who fought for them, who was considered as the hero, as he was recounting the story of a certain Swiss officer who impressed them at the exchange of prisoners.
This officer according to them escaped death by chance as a certain girl and her mother protected him. Meanwhile, contrary to expectations Sergius attracted to Raina's maid, louka. Unexpectedly, Captain Bluntschli arrived to return the coat which Raina and her mother lent him. He is the Swiss officer talked about, so the men gave him a rousing welcome while the women pretended that they do not know him, however he was persuaded to stay for lunch.
After the lunch he helped Sergius and Petkoff in their arrangement to demonize the military formation with ease. Raina who, right from the first day she met Bluntschli, had a romantic ideas about him to the extent of sending him a picture, developed stronger feelings towards him but still felt obliged to go on with Sergius.
On the other hand, louka who has fallen in love with Sergius inform him that Raina (his fiance) was in love with Bluntschli. Sergius accused Raina of making love to Bluntschli while Raina accused him of doing same to Louka her maid. The play ended in cross-pollination of marriage where Raina who was engaged by Sergius but later married Captain Bluntschli the chocolate cream soldier, While Sergius married Louka Raina's maid.
Rewriting the ending
If i had been the author, i would have allowed Raina marry her Sergius whom she had affection for before the coming of the chocolate cream soldier (Bluntschli) and also Sergius wouldn't have married Louka following his breakup with Raina whom he loved so dearly to the extent of fighting for the Bulgarian side to show his bravery, instead he should have been unmarried to mourn the breakup.
All the actions of the play took place in Major Petkoff's house- Raina's bedroom, their library and their garden.
This is my entry for the Hive book Club Contest and I would like to invite @merit.ahama and @hopestylist to join in the contest.