Looking for the End of the World
Looking for the End of the World is a play written by George Bernard Shaw that explores themes of religion and science. The story follows a group of scientists who travel to a remote island in search of evidence of an impending apocalypse. Along the way, they encounter various obstacles and challenges that test their beliefs and values.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1943 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Social Commentary · 352 words
First lines
Yet another persistent belief has beset the imagination of the religious ever since religion spread among the poor, or, rather, ever since commercial civilization produced a hopelessly poor class cut off from enjoyment in this world. That belief is that the end of this world is at hand, and that it will presently pass away and be replaced by a kingdom of happiness, justice, and bliss in which the rich and the oppressors and the unjust shall have no share. We are all familiar with this expectation: many of us cherish some pious relative who sees in every great calamity a sign of the approaching end. Warning pamphlets are in constant circulation: advertisements are put in the papers and paid for by those who are convinced, and who are horrified at the indifference of the irreligious to the approaching doom.
What this Textopian page supports
Looking for the End of the World is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1943 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: 1943 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Social Commentary, Dystopian, Political Fiction
- Length: 352 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Looking for the End of the World 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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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Looking for the End of the World?
- How does this essay by George Bernard Shaw fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — Explores deep philosophical themes about the end of the world and societal beliefs.
- Religious Fiction — Centers on religious beliefs and the expectation of a world-ending event.
- Social Commentary — Critiques societal structures and the impact of religion on the poor.
- Dystopian — Presents a vision of a world facing impending doom and societal collapse.
Tags
apocalypse · philosophy · drama · satire · social commentary · human condition · existentialism · dystopia · political critique · theater · absurdism · morality