The Social Question
The Social Question is a play by George Bernard Shaw that explores the issue of poverty and social inequality in Victorian England. The story follows the lives of two families, one wealthy and one poor, and their interactions with each other. Throughout the play, Shaw criticizes the capitalist system and advocates for socialism as a solution to society's problems.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1898 · Genre: Social Commentary, Political Philosophy, Satire · 29 words
First lines
Do not waste your time on Social Questions. What is the matter with the poor is Poverty: what is the matter with the rich is Uselessness.
What this Textopian page supports
The Social Question is listed on Textopian as a play by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1898 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: 1898 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Social Commentary, Political Philosophy, Satire, Essay
- Length: 29 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Social Question 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 Social Question?
- How does this play by George Bernard Shaw fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Social Commentary first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Equal Distribution by George Bernard Shaw
- Redistribution by George Bernard Shaw
- Labor Time by George Bernard Shaw
- The Lash For Labour by G. K. Chesterton
- The Dream Of Distribution According To Merit by George Bernard Shaw
- The Mask Of Socialism by G. K. Chesterton
Genres
- Social Commentary — The work addresses societal issues, focusing on poverty and the roles of different social classes.
- Political Philosophy — It explores the implications of social structures and the distribution of wealth and power.
- Satire — The writing style employs wit and irony to critique social norms and behaviors.
- Essay — The format and approach are analytical and argumentative, typical of essay writing.
Tags
socialism · class struggle · inequality · politics · economics · society · reform · philosophy · labor · capitalism · education · welfare