Major Barbara

Major Barbara Summary | Act 1 Summary

Act 1 begins in the library of a well-appointed house in London. Lady Britomart Undershaft, a well-dressed society woman in her fifties is awaiting the arrival of her son, Stephen. Lady Britomart awaits Stephen's arrival so she may discuss with him his future as the head of the Undershaft family. Stephen has recently turned 24, and Lady Britomart wishes him to undertake more responsibilities as the only man in a family of three women. We soon learn that there is a Mr. Undershaft, but that he does not live with the family, as the husband and wife are separated. Stephen's discomfort at the mention of Undershaft's name is evident, but Lady Britomart claims that she can no longer withstand the strain of managing the family alone, due to the added strain of the marriage of her two daughters.

Her younger daughter, Sarah, is engaged to a man who will become wealthy at age 35, when he comes into his inheritance. However, until he turns 35, he is dirt poor and will need his wife's family to contribute to their livelihood in order to continue to move within high society. Her older daughter, Barbara, is engaged to a professor of Greek, who is an educated and socially suitable man, but he is also quite poor. Barbara herself has sworn off all creature comforts and she is a major in the Salvation Army, existing on one pound (British monetary unit) per week.

Because the two daughters are marrying poor men, the Undershaft family will need to support three households, rather than just one. Lady Britomart asks Stephen's advice on whether or not to appeal to her ex-husband, the father of her three children, for the extra support. Mr. Undershaft is extremely wealthy through his cannon foundry. Lady Britomart tells Stephen that the business of weaponry has been in the Undershaft family for generations. In this family, though, it has the peculiar distinction of being handed down only to foundlings, or babies born out of wedlock, as Undershaft himself was, rather than sons born legitimately within the Undershaft family. Lady Britomart explains to her son that she and his father had separated in order to meet Mr. Undershaft's wish of disinheriting Stephen, so that he may someday carry on the tradition.

After burdening Stephen with this new and disturbing knowledge, she again asks him for advice on the problem of the family finances. Stephen is horrified by his mother's proposal to ask Undershaft for money. She tells Stephen that . Undershaft provides all of their present income, which shocks Stephen further. Finally, Lady Britomart tells Stephen that she has invited Undershaft to the house that very night to ask him for the money, so that he may see the daughters he will be supporting and meet the future son-in-laws who cannot provide for them.

Lady Britomart calls Sarah, Barbara and their two fiancées, Charles Lomax and Adolphus Cusins, into the room to break the news to them that their father is coming to visit. Everyone except Barbara is stunned; she sees it as an opportunity to save her father's wicked soul. As a major in the Salvation Army, it is her job to save souls, and she takes her job very seriously.

Lady Britomart tells the girls that because their father has not seen them in years, it is important that they are on their best behavior. She does not disclose to the girls that she will be asking for money on their behalf.

Undershaft arrives, ushered in by the family butler, and in his discomfort, he mistakenly identifies Charles Lomax as his son. He obviously does not even know how many children he has, and thinks that all three men are his sons. Lady Britomart corrects him, explaining that he has only one son, who he then thinks is Adolphus Cusins. Cusins explains to him that he is engaged to Barbara, and introduces Barbara, Sarah and Stephen.

Undershaft asks Barbara about her work at the Salvation Army. She requests that he comes to see her at the Salvation Army tomorrow. Mr. Undershaft agrees, on the condition that Barbara will come to see his foundry the following day. The conversation is taken over by Cholly (Charles), who wonders abstractly about the morality of Undershaft's work at the cannonry. Undershaft responds by saying that he has no qualms about his work, and does neither seeks to justify it, nor to declare his self as good or bad. He only wishes to produce weapons to the best of his ability. Stephen interjects, saying that there are good men in the world and scoundrels. Barbara responds, saying that there is neither good nor evil in the world, just "children of one Father," and that in the Salvation Army she has the opportunity to help all people equally. Her father is obviously intrigued by Barbara more so than by any of his other children, though his disdain for Stephen is evident.

The topic of religion is not fit for discussion, according to Lady Britomart. Therefore, she tries unsuccessfully to change the subject. She finally agrees that if they are going to talk about religion, then it must be in the form of a prayer. No one agrees to this request, and everyone adjourns to the drawing room. Lady Britomart and Stephen are once again left alone in the library. As she begins to cry, she tells Stephen that she feels his father is trying to steal her children's love away from her. Finally, she follows the others in to the drawing room, leaving Stephen alone to sulk.