# Great Catherine — Short Plays character guide

> Great Catherine in Short Plays by George Bernard Shaw.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Great Catherine, Catherine, the Catherine, Empress Catherine II, Catherine Donnerwetter, Catherine Urbanely, Catherine Men, Catherine Pushing Edstaston, Catherine Patiomkin, Catherine To Patiomkin

**First appearance:** 0035-great-catherine

## Snapshot

The Empress of Russia as Shaw prefers to remember her — less a diplomat than a magnificent sentimental comedian running a vast Guignol Theatre with herself as clown.

## Who they are

Catherine rules the Winter Palace with the caprice of a woman who has plenty of character and, as Shaw cheerfully puts it, no morals, keeping court as a species of harlequinade in which she is both monarch and clown. She is a match for Patiomkin and every intriguer in Europe, yet she is humbugged about Russia itself by sham cities run up for her inspection. When a young Englishman stumbles into her favor, her dangerous whimsy becomes the play's engine — she is the virtuoso part Shaw wrote to fit an actress, and the play exists to let her fill the stage.

## Relationships

### [Captain Edstaston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters/captain_edstaston)

_romantic_

Captain Edstaston is a reluctant suitor to the powerful and domineering Great Catherine, who toys with him romantically.

### [Patiomkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters/patiomkin)

_professional_

Great Catherine and Patiomkin are ruler and advisor, with Patiomkin serving as her powerful and loyal minister.

### [Claire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters/claire)

_rivalry_

Claire and Great Catherine are romantic rivals, both vying for Captain Edstaston's affections.

### [Varinka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters/varinka)

_social_

Great Catherine and Varinka are mistress and maid, with Varinka serving as Catherine's personal attendant.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters/great_catherine
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_plays_se/characters