The Captain and the Cabin Boy
The Captain and the Cabin Boy is a play written by George Bernard Shaw. It tells the story of a ship's captain who takes on a young cabin boy, only to find himself in conflict with the boy's mother over his treatment of her son. The play explores themes of power dynamics, class struggle, and the nature of authority.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1906 · Genre: Social Commentary, Philosophical, Political · 248 words
First lines
Nothing, therefore, is really in question, or ever has been, but the differences between class incomes. Already there is economic equality between captains, and economic equality between cabin boys. What is at issue still is whether there shall be economic equality between captains and cabin boys. What would Jesus have said? Presumably he would have said that if your only object is to produce a captain and a cabin boy for the purpose of transferring you from Liverpool to New York, or to manoeuvre a fleet and carry powder from the magazine to the gun, then you need give no more than a shilling to the cabin boy for every pound you give to the more expensively trained captain.
What this Textopian page supports
The Captain and the Cabin Boy 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: Social Commentary, Philosophical, Political, Satire, Drama
- Length: 248 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Captain and the Cabin Boy 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
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Captain and the Cabin Boy?
- How does this essay by George Bernard Shaw fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Social Commentary first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Our Boys by Henry James Byron
- John Bulls Other Island by George Bernard Shaw
- Captain Brassbounds Conversion by George Bernard Shaw
- The Seven Darlings by Gouverneur Morris
- Kidnapped by Rudyard Kipling
- Dukes by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Social Commentary — The text discusses economic equality and class differences, focusing on societal roles and values.
- Philosophical — The narrative explores moral and ethical questions about human value and societal roles.
- Political — The work addresses issues of economic disparity and class structure, reflecting political themes.
- Satire — The text uses irony and exaggeration to critique societal norms and economic systems.
Tags
adventure · drama · theater · comedy · relationships · power dynamics · coming of age · nautical · friendship · betrayal · class struggle · identity