Characters Discussed
Sir Andrew Undershaft
Sir Andrew Undershaft, a munitions tycoon. Believing that poverty is the root of all discontent and, consequently, a threat to capitalism, he uses his power and wealth in an attempt to eliminate it. In a war of ideas with his daughter Barbara, he proves that a donation from a dealer in death—namely, himself—will buy the good graces of the Salvation Army. He then proceeds to fill the void created by her disillusionment by converting her to his own creed.
Barbara
Barbara, Sir Andrew’s daughter. As a major in the Salvation Army, she exercises her moral fervor in the cause of winning the souls of the poor to the kingdom of God. When her father proves to her that a donation from his deplored and destructive profession can win the favor of the Army, she becomes converted to his creed that it is useless to attempt the salvation of souls until the souls’ destroyer, poverty, has been eliminated.
Adolphus Cusins
Adolphus Cusins, a professor of Greek, Barbara’s suitor. His intellect, added to Sir Andrew’s power and Barbara’s moral fervor, completes the trinity that Sir Andrew believes will be the salvation of society.
Lady Britomart Undershaft
Lady Britomart Undershaft, Sir Andrew’s domineering wife, who abhors what she calls her husband’s immorality, though she does not hesitate to capitalize on it.
Stephen Undershaft
Stephen Undershaft, Sir Andrew’s painfully conventional son.
Sarah Undershaft
Sarah Undershaft, Sir Andrew’s younger daughter.
Charles Lomax
Charles Lomax, Sarah Undershaft’s vacuous suitor.
Snobby Price
Snobby Price,
Rummy Mitchens
Rummy Mitchens,
Peter Shirley
Peter Shirley, and
Bill Walker
Bill Walker, frequenters of the Salvation Army headquarters.
Characters
Mrs. Baines
Mrs. Baines, a Commissioner in the Salvation Army, accepts the donation from
Barbara, which comes from the Undershaft family.
Dolly
Refer to Adolphus Cusins.
Jenny Hill
Jenny is a devoted member of the Salvation Army who naively believes in the
sincerity of Mitchens and Price's religious displays. When Walker hits her, her
endless forgiveness and compassion cause him to feel deep remorse.
Charles Lomax
Charles, who is engaged to Sarah, is a frivolous young man. His lack of
intelligence and inappropriate remarks make him a comedic figure in the
play.
Major Barbara
Refer to Barbara Undershaft.
Rummy Mitchens
Mitchens is a frequent visitor at the Salvation Army shelter. Although she
appears elderly due to her hardships, she is likely middle-aged. She values the
kindness of the Salvation Army workers but knows she must confess numerous sins
to please them. When Walker strikes her, she reacts with anger and threats,
contrasting with Jenny Hill, who responds with kindness and forgiveness.
Cholly
Refer to Charles Lomax.
Adolphus Cusins
Cusins, engaged to Barbara, is described by Shaw as "capable possibly of
murder, but not of cruelty or coarseness." A Greek professor, he feigns being a
Salvationist out of love for Barbara, though he tells Andrew Undershaft he has
a genuine interest in religion. Sharing some of Barbara's idealism, he is
repelled by Undershaft's cynical worship of money and armaments, often calling
him the devil or Mephistopheles. Despite this, he is somewhat swayed by
Undershaft's arguments and agrees to take over Undershaft's armaments business.
He initially insists he will sell arms only to those he chooses, while
Undershaft argues he should sell to everyone. Ultimately, Cusins agrees to
Undershaft's terms but leaves the impression that he and Barbara will attempt
to bring some good to a business rooted in evil.
Snobby Price
Price is an unemployed laborer who admits to confessing fictitious sins to please the Salvation Army members. He presents a...
(This entire section contains 1002 words.)
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dual persona: a cynical one with Mitchens and an exaggeratedly pious one in front of Barbara and Jenny.
Peter Shirley
Shirley, a forty-six-year-old worker, feels humiliated by having to accept help
from the Salvation Army. He recently lost his job because his gray hair makes
him appear older. He tells Undershaft that people like him are poor because
they labor to make the wealthy even richer.
Andrew Undershaft
Andrew Undershaft, Barbara's father, has amassed wealth through the production
of armaments. His belief system revolves around money and gunpowder, and he
claims that the Salvation Army's motto, "Blood and Fire," could easily be his
own. Despite the horror his profession inspires in others, he remains
unapologetic, living by the motto "unashamed." His career as an arms
manufacturer has kept him from what he considers the greatest sin—poverty.
Throughout the play, numerous references liken him to the devil, and Barbara's
description of his workplace aligns with stereotypical depictions of hell.
However, his factory is anything but hellish; his workers are well-fed and
reside in clean, comfortable homes. This seemingly benevolent environment
carries a hint of cynicism; satisfied workers are less likely to unionize and
more likely to be dependable. Undershaft genuinely loves Barbara and hopes to
convert her to his worldview. Although the play concludes with his apparent
triumph, Barbara remains a reformer. She understands her father's actions and
beliefs but does not embrace his cynicism.
Barbara Undershaft
Barbara, the play's title character, comes from a privileged background but has
devoted herself to the Salvation Army, rising to the rank of major. She
dismisses her servant and significantly reduces her spending to focus on what
she believes is God's work. Shaw portrays her as cheerful and energetic,
qualities that shine through in her efforts at the Salvation Army shelter. Her
religious fervor and quiet persistence begin to break down even the tough Bill
Walker. Barbara is engaged to Adolphus Cusins. The story begins when Barbara
meets her father for the first time and invites him to visit her shelter. He
agrees, on the condition that she visits his foundry and model town. Barbara's
idealism is shattered when her father visits the shelter and the Army eagerly
accepts his money, which she deems tainted. Disillusioned, she leaves the Army,
uncertain about her future.
Upon witnessing the beauty of Perivale St. Andrews, Barbara becomes convinced that her mission should be to save souls that cannot be swayed by bread or the promise of heaven. As Cusins agrees to succeed Undershaft, Barbara finds a renewed sense of purpose. She has grown wiser but retains her idealism, planning to transform her father's model town.
Lady Britomart Undershaft
Lady Britomart is Barbara's mother and the estranged wife of Andrew Undershaft.
At the play's outset, she calls for Undershaft to discuss how he will support
their adult children. She is especially worried about their son Stephen. She
separated from Undershaft initially because he planned to leave his business to
a foundling rather than to Stephen. By the play's conclusion, she is content
with Undershaft's decision to pass the business to Barbara through Cusins.
Sarah Undershaft
Sarah is Barbara's sister and is more superficial than Barbara. Shaw describes
her as "slender, bored, and mundane." She is engaged to Charles Lomax.
Stephen Undershaft
Stephen, the twenty-five-year-old son of Andrew Undershaft and Lady Britomart,
is a serious young man. Initially appalled by his father's profession, he
rejects Undershaft from the start, unlike his siblings. However, after visiting
his father's foundry and the city of Penvale St. Andrews, he begins to admire
and respect his father's work.
Bill Walker
Bill Walker is a rough young man who comes to the shelter seeking a fight and
ends up hitting both Mitchens and Hill. Since Mitchens reacts with anger, he
feels no shame for striking her. However, Hill's forgiveness stirs deep guilt
within him. When he tries to offer money to atone for his actions, Barbara
tells him that the Army cannot be bought. Yet, when Mrs. Baines accepts money
from Undershaft, Walker mocks Barbara, suggesting his money was only refused
because it was insufficient.