Play details
| Playwright | George Bernard Shaw |
| First published | 1907 |
| Period | Early 20th century / Set in 1906 |
| Location | London, England |
| Format | Three-act play |
| Cast size | 17 (10 M / 7 F) |
| Genre(s) | Realist Drama, Social Satire, Problem Play |
Introduction to Major Barbara
George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara, first performed in 1905, is a provocative and intellectually challenging play that explores the relationship between morality, wealth, religion, and social responsibility. Set in Edwardian England, the play follows Barbara Undershaft, a passionate officer in the Salvation Army who believes she can save souls and reform society through spiritual and charitable work. Her ideals are put to the test when she comes into contact with her estranged father, Andrew Undershaft, a wealthy arms manufacturer whose fortune is built on the production of weapons. Through their clash of values, Shaw raises unsettling questions about whether poverty, rather than sin, is the greatest threat to human dignity.
Understanding the historical context of Major Barbara helps explain why its themes were so controversial. The play was written during the early twentieth century, a period when Britain was experiencing rapid industrialization, growing urban poverty, and intense debate about social reform. Factories, mines, and large corporations had created enormous wealth for a small elite, while many workers lived in overcrowded and unhealthy conditions. At the same time, Britain’s global empire depended heavily on military power, making industries like arms manufacturing both profitable and politically important. Shaw uses Undershaft’s munitions empire to represent the uncomfortable truth that society’s stability and prosperity often rested on violence and exploitation.
The Salvation Army, which plays a central role in the drama, was a real and influential organization in Shaw’s time. Founded in 1865, it aimed to help the poor through charity, religious conversion, and social services such as shelters and soup kitchens. However, it relied heavily on donations from wealthy benefactors, some of whom had made their money through questionable or harmful industries. Shaw satirizes this dependence in Major Barbara when the Salvation Army accepts financial support from Undershaft, forcing Barbara to confront the contradiction between moral purity and practical survival. This dilemma reflects wider debates in Edwardian Britain about whether social good could be achieved using money earned through immoral means.
Shaw himself was a socialist and a strong critic of both unregulated capitalism and sentimental charity. He believed that real social change required economic reform, not just goodwill. In Major Barbara, he challenges the audience to consider whether feeding the hungry and giving them stable jobs is more important than preaching spiritual salvation. Undershaft’s argument, which is that poverty is the worst crime of all,was radical for its time, questioning the moral authority of religious institutions and the traditional class system.
Through sharp dialogue and complex characters, Major Barbara challenges audiences to rethink easy ideas about right and wrong. Shaw’s play is a powerful critique of both capitalism and idealism, making it one of his most enduring works.
