Labor Time by George Bernard Shaw
Labor Time is a play written by George Bernard Shaw that explores the theme of class struggle and the exploitation of workers in capitalist societies. The story follows the lives of several characters who are caught up in the conflict between laborers and their employers, including a wealthy industrialist named Mr. Undershaft and his daughter Barbara. Throughout the play, Shaw uses satire and humor to critique the social and economic systems that perpetuate inequality and oppression.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1930 · Genre: Political Fiction, Social Commentary, Philosophical Fiction · 121 words
First lines
So maker's right as an alternative to taking the advice of Jesus would not work. In practice nothing was possible in that direction but to pay a worker by labor time so much an hour or day or week or year. But how much? When that question came up, the only answer was "as little as he can be starved into accepting," with the ridiculous results already mentioned, and the additional anomaly that the largest share went to the people who did not work at all, and the least to those who worked hardest. In England nine-tenths of the wealth goes into the pockets of one-tenth of the population.
What this Textopian page supports
Labor Time is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1930 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: 1930 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Fiction, Social Commentary, Philosophical Fiction, Satire, Drama
- Length: 121 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Labor Time by George Bernard Shaw
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Social Question by George Bernard Shaw
- Equal Distribution by George Bernard Shaw
- Redistribution by George Bernard Shaw
- The Lash For Labour by G. K. Chesterton
- Property by George Bernard Shaw
- The Dream Of Distribution According To Merit by George Bernard Shaw
Genres
- Political Fiction — The text critiques socio-economic structures and wealth distribution, focusing on labor and compensation.
- Social Commentary — It addresses societal issues related to economic inequality and the exploitation of workers.
- Philosophical Fiction — The narrative explores philosophical questions about justice, fairness, and the value of labor.
- Satire — The work uses irony and exaggeration to criticize the absurdities of economic systems.
Tags
labor · time · economics · socialism · capitalism · work · value · production · class struggle · industrialization · philosophy · politics