3 Review(s)

Major Barbara, a social satire in three acts, written in 1905 and published in 1907, is the most controversial of Shaw’s works which mocks religious hypocrisy and the complicity of society in its own ills. When the play was first produced at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1905, the early reviews were mixed. Shaw’s vehement criticism of Christianity triggered some critics to accuse him of blasphemy. However, there were some critics who defended stating that he has made a realistic presentation of the religion. The play is popular among the people ever since it was first staged, and an adaptation was done to film in 1941. Today this play is taken as a very important work, not only among Shaw’s plays, but also in the history of modern drama. The play deals with the validity of religious and charitable organizations like Salvation Army. It ridicules the superficial family ties of the rich where nothing is sacred except money. It has also a socialist learning, as it questions capitalism, especially the exploitation of the workers by large industrialists. It owes its origins to Shaw’s personal experiences, as he often observed the girls of the Salvation Army conducting meetings and judged them to be hypocritical. In this play, Shaw expresses his view on poverty, ethics, and politics through Undershaft who ridicules the intellectuals and moralists who consider poverty as a virtue. Since the play is a discussion play, Barbara and Andrew discuss on the issue of idealism represented by Barbara and realism represented by Andrew. Directly or indirectly, Shaw has raised many critical issues in the play. Almost all these issues bear social and political significance. Thematically, the play is transparent because the action of the play is a long philosophical discussion.