Major Barbara

Interesting Facts

• The play «Major Barbara» explores themes of morality, religion, and social responsibility through the lens of the Undershaft family, where the father is a wealthy arms manufacturer and the daughter is a major in the Salvation Army.
• One of the central themes of the play is the conflict between idealism and realism, manifested in the clash of views between Barbara and her father.
• Bernard Shaw uses the play to critique capitalism and question the moral foundations of society, showing how money and power can influence human values.
• The play was first performed in 1905 and has since remained one of Shaw's most renowned works, frequently staged.
• «Major Barbara» also explores the question of whether charity can be sincere if it is funded by immoral sources, such as arms manufacturing.