1984 and Major Barbara

"Major Barbara Plot Summary"

"The play follows Barbara Undershaft a Salvation Army major who discovers that her organizations funding comes from immoral sources like her fathers munitions factory and thus must confront the tension between idealism poverty religion and power"

"Major Barbara Social Hierarchy"

"The Undershaft family upper class factory workers lower class Salvation Army members lower working poor classes Bill Walker and others further down demonstrating Shaws critique of capitalism and class inequality"

"Major Barbara Plot Structure"

"Act I family conflict between Barbara and her father Act II Salvation Army debate about morality of money Act III visit to the munitions factory revealing Shaws argument that power industry and economic stability shape society more than moral posturing"

"Major Barbara Contrasting Characters"

"Barbara idealistic and spiritual vs Andrew Undershaft practical powerful and cynical also contrasts between rich Undershafts and the poor Salvation Army converts between moral purity and economic necessity"

"Major Barbara Barbara Undershaft"

"A Salvation Army major deeply committed to saving souls but struggles when she learns the Salvation Army accepts money from unethical industries including her fathers business"

"Major Barbara Andrew Undershaft"

"A wealthy arms manufacturer who believes poverty is the greatest crime argues that real salvation comes from economic power and stability not charity"

"Major Barbara Lady Britomart"

"Barbaras mother who manages the household with strict control and believes the family must maintain social position"

"Major Barbara Adolphus Cusins"

"Barbaras scholarly Greek professor fiancé who becomes conflicted about morality and ultimately decides to join Undershafts business"

"Major Barbara Bill Walker"

"A violent poor man who challenges the Salvation Army and serves as a representation of social desperation"

"Major Barbara Stephen Undershaft"

"Barbaras brother and the expected heir to the Undershaft fortune but rejected for being too moralistic and conventional"

"Major Barbara Themes"

"Morality versus power poverty and dignity influence of capitalism religion as comfort versus reality and Shaw’s idea that economic security is the basis for real salvation"

"1984 Plot Summary"

"Winston Smith lives under a totalitarian regime ruled by Big Brother he begins rebelling through thought crime and an affair with Julia but he is eventually captured tortured in the Ministry of Love and forced to surrender his individuality"

"1984 Social Hierarchy"

"Inner Party ruling elite Outer Party bureaucratic workers like Winston Proles massive uneducated lower class under heavy surveillance controlling who has power information and freedom"

"1984 Plot Structure"

"Part 1 introduces Oceania and Winstons dissatisfaction Part 2 Winston and Julias rebellion and relationship Part 3 his arrest torture reprogramming and final emotional surrender to Big Brother"

"1984 Contrasting Characters"

"Winston individualistic intellectual and rebellious vs Julia practical pleasure driven and apolitical also contrast between OBrien seductive intellectual torturer and Winston as the victim contrast between Party power and individual weakness"

"1984 Winston Smith"

"Outer Party member works rewriting history at the Ministry of Truth curious thoughtful secretly rebellious but ultimately broken by the Party"

"1984 Julia"

"Winstons lover who rebels only for personal pleasure not ideology represents bodily rebellion over intellectual rebellion"

"1984 OBrien"

"Inner Party member who pretends to be part of the resistance but ultimately tortures Winston in the Ministry of Love represents the cruelty of totalitarian control"

"1984 Big Brother"

"The figurehead of the Party not confirmed to be real symbol of surveillance and unquestioned obedience"

"1984 Mr Charrington"

"Initially appears to be a kind shop owner but is later revealed as a member of the Thought Police"

"1984 Parsons"

"Winstons neighbor blindly loyal to the Party even when arrested for thoughtcrime committed in his sleep"

"1984 Themes"

"Surveillance manipulation of truth destruction of individuality psychological control censorship and the terrifying power of totalitarian government"