Major Barbara by George Bernard Shaw: Summary

In the opening scene of the play, Lady Britomart is discussing with her son Stephen how to provide necessary fortunes to the daughters when they are married off. Finally, they come to the conclusion that Stephen should ask for help to his father Andrew Undershaft. Andrew and Lady Brit have been separated for a long time.

It is revealed that Andrew and his ancestors have been transferring the Heritance of the family business to the foundling only. Though they are separated Andrew has been looking after the family financially.

She makes a plan to invite Andrew to see his children for the first time after the separation. In the course of the talk, he comes to know that Barbara is the major in the Salvation Army. She is not happy and impressed that he makes arms of the living, which supports death, war and violence in the world. Major Barbara works for the spiritual upliftment of the poor and the people who are devastated by the war. So it is natural for her to hate her father and his way of earning. However, after some hot discussion on the issue, they make a deal: Andrew undershaft will visit her Army Camp and she will visit his arms factory.

In the Salvation Army Camp, Snobby Price and Rummy Mitchens are believed to be more exploited and poor than they really are. They go to the camp for the food and help. Another character called Bill goes around the camp to look for his girlfriend. In the process of searching his girlfriend, he hits Jenny Hill thinking that she has manipulated his girlfriend to leave him.  Having a look at the behavior of Bill, Barbara tries to convert him, but her efforts go in vain. He tries to buy his salvation by offering a gold coin to Barbara. She directly rejects it. But, the poor fellow Snobby tries to steal the gold coin.

Mrs. Baines, the Army commissioner, comes with a good news that they have received the huge donations. When Barbara learns that the donations come not from others but from her father's arms factory and a whisky distillery factory, she is upset to realize the fact that the funding of the Salvation Army depends on the businesses which are against its principles.  She is deeply hurt that the army was so easily bought and bribed. The rest of the people in the army take this fact easily and go marching off in a procession to get more converts with the good news at hand.

Barbara and Sarah are hanging out at home. It seems that Barbara has left the job as a major in the Salvation Army. Andrew Undershaft arrives to take everyone to visit his factory. As all the children are getting ready, Mrs. Britomort makes Andrew promise to look after the daughters financially for their weddings.

In the factory everyone is impressed including Barbara. She sees the poor are engaged in jobs and have full and satisfied belly. She has decided to return to the Army and set her mind to convert workers in the factory who are not hungry and in satisfying belly they can grasp the idea of salvation, the religion, more effectively and for real.

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