The Devil's Disciple by George Bernard Shaw
The Devil's Disciple is a play by George Bernard Shaw, first performed in 1897. Set during the American Revolutionary War, the play follows the story of Richard Dudgeon, a local outcast who is mistaken for a rebel leader and is forced to take on the role of a martyr. The play begins in the small New England town of Dunbarton, where Richard Dudgeon is an outcast due to his rebellious nature and his refusal to conform to the town's strict religious beliefs. He is also known for his outspoken views on the American Revolution, which has caused him to be branded a traitor by the townspeople. Meanwhile, the British army is advancing on the town, and the local militia is preparing to fight them off. As the militia is about to leave, Richard is arrested and accused of being a rebel leader. He is sentenced to death, but his execution is delayed when a British officer, General Burgoyne, arrives and offers him a chance to save his life by pretending to be a rebel leader. Richard reluctantly agrees, and is taken to the rebel camp, where he is welcomed as a hero. He quickly becomes a symbol of the revolution, and is seen as a martyr by the rebels. However, his newfound fame is short-lived, as the British army soon arrives and captures the camp. In the end, Richard is able to escape and return to Dunbarton, where he is welcomed as a hero. He is also reunited with his beloved, Esther, who has been waiting for him all along. The play ends with Richard and Esther embracing, and the townspeople celebrating the victory of the American Revolution.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1897 · Genre: Drama, Satire, Historical Fiction · 3 chapters · 25,197 words
First lines
At the most wretched hour between a black night and a wintry morning in the year 1777, Mrs. Dudgeon, of New Hampshire, is sitting up in the kitchen and general dwelling room of her farm house on the outskirts of the town of Websterbridge. She is not a prepossessing woman. No woman looks her best after sitting up all night; and Mrs. Dudgeon's face, even at its best, is grimly trenched by the channels into which the barren forms and observances of a dead Puritanism can pen a bitter temper and a fierce pride.
What this Textopian page supports
The Devil's Disciple is listed on Textopian as a play by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1897 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1897 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Satire, Historical Fiction, Romance
- Length: 25,197 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 1,336 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Devil's Disciple 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
Similar titles
- Candida by George Bernard Shaw
- Arms And The Man by George Bernard Shaw
- At Loves Cost by Charles Garvice
- The Doctors Dilemma by George Bernard Shaw
- Australia Felix by Henry Handel Richardson
- The Marquise De Ganges by Alexandre Dumas
Genres
- Drama — The Devil's Disciple is a play written by George Bernard Shaw, which is a form of drama.
- Satire — The Devil's Disciple is a satirical play, as it uses humor to criticize and comment on society and politics.
- Historical Fiction — The Devil's Disciple is set in the American Revolutionary War, making it a historical fiction work.
- Romance — The Devil's Disciple contains a romantic subplot between two of the characters, making it a romance work.
Tags
1722-1792 · 1775-1783 · Burgoyne · Drama · History · John · Melodrama · New Hampshire · Puritans · Revolution · United States · anderson