John Bull’s Other Island (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- First Published: 1907
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Naturalism
- Time of Work: The beginning of the twentieth century
- Setting: London, England, and Rosscullen, Ireland
- Genres: Naturalistic literature, Satire, Drama, Comedy
- Subjects: Values, Twentieth century, England or English people, Politicians, London, Patriotism, Ireland or Irish people
- Locales: London, England, Rosscullen, Ireland
Characters Discussed
Tom Broadbent, an English civil engineer. Large, healthy, and hearty, Broadbent is the “John Bull” (the traditional Englishman) of this comedy of national character. An unconscious hypocrite in the service of the Land Development Syndicate, for which he hopes to develop an estate (including tourist attractions) in Rosscullen, Doyle’s birthplace, he is nevertheless full of ingenuous hope that his English efficiency can lay balm to the wounds of the suffering and incompetent Irish. Irish Home Rule, he believes, will work wonders under English guidance,...
[The entire page is 858 words long]
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