Utopian Socialism In George Bernard Shaw's The Communist Manifesto

George Bernard Shaw’s Major Barbara stands as a response to some of the different aspects of Karl Marx’s The Communist Manifesto. Shaw’s drama includes a deal made by Andrew Undershaft and his daughter, Barbara, to see which of their professions do the most good for society; a munitions factory or the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army and its outreach programs can be criticized for being socialist, utopian, and unreasonable, etc., but overall, their main goal is to save souls through the expansion of Christian religion. On the other hand, before her visit to her father’s factory, Barbara expects to see a number of sad, poor, overworked workers living and working in terrible dystopian conditions, but upon her arrival, she learned that she

At one point in the Manifesto, Marx names and describes the various types of Socialism, and ends up listing one that sounds very similar to the socialist utopia present in Andrew Undershaft’s factory. Critical Utopian Socialism shares great similarities in its core values with the society existing within the factory. To begin, “In the formation of their plans they are conscious of caring chiefly for the interests of the working class, as being the most suffering class” (The Communist Manifesto 106). This act of caring for the interests of the working class is clear within the Undershaft factory as Undershaft provides different conveniences and benefits for his workers, which make up the working, suffering class. Next is the topic of class antagonism, which does not seem to be an issue within the factory setting. The Communist Manifesto reads, “...all these proposals point solely to the disappearance of class antagonisms...These proposals, therefore are of purely utopian character” (The Communist Manifesto 107). Within the factory, there is a lack of class conflict, and rather a social hierarchy in which each man knows his place and obeys orders from the man above him. This being said, The Communist Manifesto would argue that this is a “purely utopian”

When asked if the workers obeyed his orders, Undershaft replies that, “‘I never give them any orders’” (Major Barbara 143). Later, he goes on to say that they keep discipline amongst themselves, and he does not have to intervene to provide disciplinary action. Amongst the men there is a social hierarchy in which there is no bullying, and order is kept because all workers will drive those who are below them on the hierarchy. (Major Barbara 143). This idea of a social hierarchy and the driving of one group of workers by the worker above them without being ultimately ruled by a tyrant seems to resonate with the idea of Utopian Socialism put forth in Marx’s Manifesto, “...the proclamation of social harmony...These proposals, therefore, are of purely utopian character” (The Communist Manifesto 107). Overall, Undershaft’s management system seems to keep the peace between workers, keep morale high, but also provide him with a very high