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Major Barbara

Written by Bernard Shaw

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Fathers and daughtersCrimeChildren of the richDidactic dramaSalvation Army

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About this book

"Major Barbara" by Bernard Shaw is a play written in the early 20th century. The narrative primarily revolves around Lady Britomart Undershaft and her interaction with her son Stephen regarding their estranged father, Andrew Undershaft, a wealthy armaments manufacturer. The play delves into themes of wealth, morality, and the contrasting ideals of social responsibility as embodied by the Salvation Army, of which Barbara, their daughter, is a major. The opening of the play unfolds in Lady Britomart's library, where she is trying to engage her son Stephen in a serious discussion about their family's financial situation and the impending visit of Andrew Undershaft. Lady Britomart stresses the need to address their father's wealth, as it is intricately tied to their survival and the futures of her daughters, particularly Barbara, who is deeply committed to her work with the Salvation Army. As the conversation progresses, Stephen reveals his unease about his father's questionable morals and the awkwardness of their familial dynamics. We also meet Barbara and her sisters, Sarah and their respective suitors, setting the stage for a broader exploration of class and ethics as the characters grapple with the burdens of their heritage and choices in life.

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Major Barbara, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • advanced
  • thought-provoking
  • satirical
  • philosophical

Bernard Shaw's "Major Barbara" is a thought-provoking play that scrutinizes the intertwined relationship between wealth, morality, and social responsibility through the lens of the Undershaft family. It centers on Barbara, a devout Major in the Salvation Army, whose idealism is severely tested when her estranged, wealthy armaments manufacturer father, Andrew Undershaft, offers a substantial donation to her organization. The play brilliantly juxtaposes the perceived purity of charitable work with the 'tainted' origins of the money that often sustains it, forcing characters and audience alike to confront the uncomfortable truths about power, poverty, and the pragmatic necessities of the modern world. Ultimately, it challenges conventional notions of good and evil, suggesting that true social change might require a more complex and sometimes unsettling alliance between idealism and the very forces it seeks to oppose.

“The greatest of our evils and the worst of our crimes is poverty.”

Key themes

Wealth and Morality
This is the central theme of the play, exploring the complex and often uncomfortable relationship between money and ethical conduct. Shaw challenges the notion of 'clean money,' arguing that all wealth, particularly in a capitalist society, is interconnected and often derived from morally ambiguous sources. The play asks whether the source of wealth matters if the wealth itself can be used for good, and if poverty is, in fact, the greatest immoral condition.
Social Responsibility and Charity
The play examines different approaches to social responsibility. Barbara's initial belief in individual spiritual salvation and direct charity through the Salvation Army is contrasted with Undershaft's conviction that systemic change, particularly the abolition of poverty through secure employment and good living conditions, is the only true form of social salvation.
Idealism vs. Pragmatism
Barbara's journey is a central exploration of the clash between unwavering idealism and practical, often morally ambiguous, pragmatism. The play suggests that pure idealism, while noble, may be ineffective in the face of harsh realities, and that true change often requires a willingness to engage with the world as it is, rather than as one wishes it to be.

Worth discussing

Is poverty the greatest crime, as Andrew Undershaft suggests? How does this challenge traditional moral frameworks?

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