Idolatry by George Bernard Shaw
Idolatry is a play written by George Bernard Shaw that explores the theme of worship and its consequences. The story follows a group of characters who are obsessed with their idols, whether they be celebrities or religious figures. Throughout the play, Shaw critiques the dangers of blindly following someone without questioning their motives or actions.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1906 · Genre: Political Satire, Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary · 139 words
First lines
The art of government is the organization of idolatry.
The bureaucracy consists of functionaries; the aristocracy, of idols; the democracy, of idolaters.
The populace cannot understand the bureaucracy: it can only worship the national idols.
The savage bows down to idols of wood and stone: the civilized man to idols of flesh and blood.
What this Textopian page supports
Idolatry is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Satire, Philosophical Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama
- Length: 139 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Idolatry by George Bernard Shaw
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Political Satire — The text critiques government structures and societal norms through irony and humor.
- Philosophical Fiction — Explores themes of idolatry and human behavior in relation to power and governance.
- Social Commentary — Comments on the roles of different societal classes and their interactions with authority.
- Drama — Presents dramatic elements in the discussion of power dynamics and human nature.
Tags
theater · drama · satire · social criticism · religion · philosophy · morality · human nature · belief systems · cultural commentary · irony · character study