Ranging from monarchies to democracies, there has always been some form of government throughout the history humanity. Humans naturally tend to organize themselves so that there is a government with various principles and beliefs, and fight against those who believe differently or persuade them to change their principles. George Bernard Shaw wrote the satirical play Major Barbara, in which the three main characters (Andrew Undershaft, Barbara Undershaft, and Adolphus Cusins) display a multitude of ethics they believe in through conflicts with each other. Through an analysis of their attitudes and occupations, the assumption can be drawn that Shaw believes power and money influence the government more than the political leaders who run government
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Barbara, the Major of the Salvation Army, advocates for the poor, taking them off the streets, feeding them, showing them religion, and finding them jobs to help them become independent again. Adolphus Cusins, Barbara’s fiance, joined in the Salvation Army’s cause to win Barbara’s heart, and eventually transforms into Andrew Undershaft’s adopted heir. Mr. Undershaft is a businessman in the making of cannons and armory, with a sole goal of having power and making money for himself. While Barbara fulfills her duties for a spiritual and selfless purpose, the two men begin with only their own success in mind. Eventually, Cusins adopts part of Barbara’s philosophy: help the common people. Shaw’s main purpose for the play may be to satirically contrast their beliefs, but government takes a part in all of the characters, displaying the strengths and weaknesses of …show more content…
Toward the end of the play, Mr. Undershaft adopts Cusins as the next heir to his position. Cusins, then, proudly declares, “The people must have power…. Now the power that is made here can be wielded by all men” (Shaw, 2016, p. ). However, this was in contrast to what Mr. Undershaft had earlier remarked: “Leave it to the poor to pretend that poverty is a blessing….We must stand together above the common people” (Shaw, 2016, p. 97). Yet, since both men were trying to win Barbara over, they resolved this dispute by allowing Cusins to adopt her philosophy. In terms of government, this symbolizes the necessity of adopting new ideas in order to have more
Barbara, the Major of the Salvation Army, advocates for the poor, taking them off the streets, feeding them, showing them religion, and finding them jobs to help them become independent again. Adolphus Cusins, Barbara’s fiance, joined in the Salvation Army’s cause to win Barbara’s heart, and eventually transforms into Andrew Undershaft’s adopted heir. Mr. Undershaft is a businessman in the making of cannons and armory, with a sole goal of having power and making money for himself. While Barbara fulfills her duties for a spiritual and selfless purpose, the two men begin with only their own success in mind. Eventually, Cusins adopts part of Barbara’s philosophy: help the common people. Shaw’s main purpose for the play may be to satirically contrast their beliefs, but government takes a part in all of the characters, displaying the strengths and weaknesses of …show more content…
Toward the end of the play, Mr. Undershaft adopts Cusins as the next heir to his position. Cusins, then, proudly declares, “The people must have power…. Now the power that is made here can be wielded by all men” (Shaw, 2016, p. ). However, this was in contrast to what Mr. Undershaft had earlier remarked: “Leave it to the poor to pretend that poverty is a blessing….We must stand together above the common people” (Shaw, 2016, p. 97). Yet, since both men were trying to win Barbara over, they resolved this dispute by allowing Cusins to adopt her philosophy. In terms of government, this symbolizes the necessity of adopting new ideas in order to have more