Back to Methuselah · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Back to Methuselah by George Bernard Shaw.
Eve
major
Also known as Eve Adam, Eve Creation, Eve The Voice, Eve Shuddering, Eves
The first woman, central to the opening play and the philosophical arc of the book.
Adam
major
Also known as Adam Eve, Adam Horrified, Adam That, Adam Who, Adam Nothing, Adam Chance, Adam Liar, Adam Struck, Adams
The first man, whose choices and conversations with Eve and the Serpent set the stage.
Lilith
supporting
Also known as Lilith
The legendary predecessor of Adam and Eve, referenced as a powerful creative force.
The Serpent
supporting
Also known as the old serpent, The Serpent Adam
The wise and enigmatic serpent who tempts Eve with the knowledge of creative evolution.
Cain
supporting
Also known as Cain Adamson, Cain Adamson Charles Napoleon, Cain Undutiful, Cain Murder, Cain Rising, Cain The Voice, Cain The Devil, Cain Selfish, Cain Mother
Adam and Eve's son, a restless and violent figure who appears across the ages.
Abel
minor
Also known as Abel
Adam and Eve's son, murdered by his brother Cain.
Franklyn Barnabas
major
Also known as Franklyn, Franklyn Mr. Joyce Burge, Franklyn Interrupting, Franklyn Gently, Franklyn Shaking, Franklyn Severely, Franklyn Mr. Haslam, Franklyn One, Franklyn The, Franklyn Astonished, Franklyn Man, Franklyn Queen Victoria, Frank
One of the Brothers Barnabas, a central proponent of creative evolution and longevity.
Conrad Barnabas
major
Also known as Conrad, Dr. Conrad Barnabas, Dr. Barnabas, Conrad Rising, Conrad Beaten, Conrad Impatiently, Conrad Why, Conrad God, Conrad Pshaw, Conrad To Savvy, Conrad Aha, the great Conrad Barnabas, the Conrad
The other Brother Barnabas, a biologist who believes in the power of the Life Force.
Mr. Barnabas
supporting
Also known as Barnabas, the Brothers Barnabas, Barnabas Alarmed, Barnabas Ingratitude, Barnabas Rising, Barnabas No, Barnabas Yah, Barnabas Hoarse, Barnabas Stuff, Barnabas Interrupting, Barnabas Choking, Doctor Barnabas
The father of Franklyn and Conrad, a retired clergyman who supports his sons' ideas.
Savvy Barnabas
supporting
Also known as Savvy, Miss Savvy, Miss Barnabas, Savvy Who, Savvy Oh, Savvy Barnabas, Savvy To Haslam, Savvy Disappointed, Savvy Horace
The intelligent and spirited daughter of Mr. Barnabas, who becomes involved in the brothers' mission.
Haslam
supporting
Also known as Mr. Haslam, The Clerical Gentleman Mr. Haslam, Haslam Beaming, Mr. Haslam Bill, Bill, poor old Bill, the Reverend Bill Haslam, Haslam Oh
A young clergyman who becomes a disciple of the Barnabas brothers.
Burge
supporting
Also known as Burge Stung, Burge Yes, Burge Stuff, Burge Lubin, Burge - Lubin, Mr. Burge, Burge God, Burge Good God, Burge The Liberal Party, Burge Fiercely, Burge Starting . Lubin
A politician and former classmate of the Barnabas brothers, representing the old order.
Lubin
supporting
Also known as Mr. Lubin, Lubin Recovering, Lubin Oh, Lubin Thank God, Lubin Rising, Lubin Savvy, Henry Hopkins Lubin, Lubin Discovering Conrad
A politician and colleague of Burge, often skeptical of the Barnabas brothers' ideas.
Joyce Burge
minor
Also known as Mr. Joyce Burge, The Parlor Maid Mr. Joyce Burge
A prominent politician who interacts with the Barnabas circle.
Confucius
supporting
Also known as Confucius Gravely, Confucius Rising, Confucius Answering, Confucius The Archbishop
The ancient Chinese philosopher, appearing as a character in the later plays.
The Archbishop
minor
Also known as Mr. Archbishop, The Archbishop Who has caught the infection of her indignation
A high-ranking church official in the future society, grappling with the new ideas.
The Accountant General
minor
Also known as the Accountant General, The Accountant General
A bureaucratic official in the future government, concerned with practical matters.
The Elderly Gentleman
major
Also known as The Elderly Gentleman Good Lord, The Elderly Gentleman Gracious Powers, The Elderly Gentleman Illuminated, The Elderly Gentleman Exhausted, The Elderly Gentleman Puzzled, The Elderly Gentleman Scrambling
A visitor from the past who struggles to adapt to the future world in Part IV.
The Veiled Woman
supporting
Also known as Woman Zozim Zoo Cain Adamson Charles Napoleon, The Woman, Zoo, Mrs. Zoo, Zoo Interrupting, Zoo Oh, Zoo Dissolve
A mysterious and powerful woman in the future, who guides the Elderly Gentleman.
Zozim
minor
Also known as Zozim, the hopelessly puzzled Zozim
A character in the future who interacts with the Elderly Gentleman.
Napoleon
minor
Also known as Napoleon Psha, Napoleon Forcibly, Napoleon Retreating, Cain Adamson Charles Napoleon
The historical emperor, appearing as a character in the future world.
Martellus
supporting
Also known as Martellus Calling, Martellus Rising, Martellus Impossible, Martellus Rises, Martellus Enslaved, Martellus Contemplating the Figures
A sculptor in the distant future, creating figures that represent the new humanity.
Pygmalion
supporting
Also known as Pygmalion, Poor Pygmalion, Carry Pygmalion, Pyg, Poor old Pyg
A sculptor in the distant future, Martellus's companion and fellow artist.
Arjillax
supporting
Also known as Arjillax Frowning, Arjillax Ask Martellus
A political leader in the distant future, concerned with the governance of the new world.
Ecrasia
minor
Also known as Ecrasia Impossible
A beautiful but intellectually limited woman in the distant future.
Strephon
minor
Also known as Strephon Rising, Strephon Crying, Strephon Hush
A young man in the distant future, part of the new generation.
The Newly Born
minor
Also known as The Newly Born Yells, The Newly Born Indignant, the Newly Born
A child born in the distant future, representing the next stage of evolution.
The Oracle
minor
Also known as The Oracle
A wise and ancient figure in the distant future, offering guidance.
The Female Figure
minor
Also known as The Female Figure Ozymandias, Ozymandias
A statue in the distant future, representing an ancient ruler.
The Male Figure
minor
Also known as The Male Figure Crawling
A statue in the distant future, representing an ancient ruler.
Mrs. Lutestring
minor
Also known as Mrs. Lutestring Conrad Barnabas, Mrs. Lutestring Mr. President, Mrs. Lutestring Rising
A character in the future, connected to the Barnabas legacy.
The British Envoy
minor
Also known as The Envoy, The Envoy Very, The Envoy Whew
A diplomatic official in the future world.
The Negress
minor
Also known as The Negress Mr. President
A character in the future, part of the political scene.
Mr. President
minor
Also known as Mr. President
The president in the future world, dealing with political matters.
Daddy
minor
Also known as Old Daddy Long Legs
A term of address for an older character in the future.
The Maiden
minor
Also known as The Maiden Impatiently
A young woman in the future, part of the new generation.
The Pythoness
minor
Also known as The Pythoness
A prophetic figure in the distant future.
The Englishman
minor
Also known as That great Englishman Simon de Montfort, Simon
A historical figure referenced in the narrative.
Charles Darwin
supporting
Also known as Darwin, the prophet Darwin, Charles
The naturalist whose theory of evolution is a central topic of the book's preface.
Lamarck
minor
Also known as poor Lamarck
The early evolutionist whose ideas are contrasted with Darwin's.
Weismann
minor
Also known as Weismann
A biologist whose theories on heredity are discussed.
Samuel Butler
minor
Also known as Butler, Only Samuel Butler
A writer and thinker whose ideas on evolution are referenced.
Karl Marx
minor
Also known as Marx
The socialist philosopher, discussed in relation to Darwinism.
Goethe
minor
Also known as Goethe
The German poet and scientist, an early evolutionist.
Ibsen
minor
Also known as Saint Henrik Ibsen
The playwright, mentioned in the context of creative evolution.
Shakespeare
minor
Also known as Shakespeare
The playwright, referenced as an artist-prophet.
Michelangelo
minor
Also known as Michelangelo, Raphaels
The Renaissance artist, mentioned in the context of art and evolution.
Beethoven
minor
Also known as Beethoven
The composer, mentioned as an artist-prophet.
Nietzsche
minor
Also known as Nietzsche
The philosopher, discussed in relation to the Superman and evolution.
Christ
minor
Also known as Christ
The religious figure, discussed in the context of legends and evolution.
Muhammad
minor
Also known as Muhammad
The religious founder, mentioned in the context of legends.
Satan
minor
Also known as Satan
The devil, referenced in the context of religious legends.
Methuselah
minor
Also known as old Methuselah
The biblical figure known for his long life, central to the book's theme.
Elijah
minor
Also known as Elijah
The biblical prophet, referenced in the context of longevity.
Enoch
minor
Also known as Enoch
A biblical figure who walked with God, referenced for his longevity.
Adam Smith
minor
Also known as Adam Smith
The economist, mentioned in the context of political economy.
Robert Owen
minor
Also known as Owen
The social reformer, mentioned in the context of socialism.
Charles Bradlaugh
minor
Also known as Bradlaugh
A secularist and politician, mentioned in the context of freethought.
Tyndall
minor
Also known as Tyndall
A physicist, mentioned in the context of scientific materialism.
Helmholtz
minor
Also known as Helmholtz
A scientist, mentioned in the context of physics and evolution.
Malthus
minor
Also known as Malthus
The economist, whose population theory influenced Darwin.
Paley
minor
Also known as Paley
The theologian, known for the watchmaker analogy, critiqued in the book.
Linnaeus
minor
Also known as Linnaeus
The botanist, mentioned as an early classifier of life.
Erasmus Darwin
minor
Also known as Erasmus
Charles Darwin's grandfather, an early evolutionist poet and scientist.
Lorenz Oken
minor
Also known as Oken
A German naturalist, mentioned as an early evolutionist.
Metchnikoff
minor
Also known as Metchnikoff
A biologist, mentioned in the context of longevity research.
Voltaire
minor
Also known as Conspuez Voltaire
The French philosopher, mentioned in the context of religious criticism.
Shelley
minor
Also known as Shelley
The poet, mentioned in the context of creative evolution.
Blanco Posnet
minor
Also known as Blanco Posnet
A character from another Shaw play, referenced in the preface.
Old Nobodaddy
minor
Also known as Nobodaddy
A name for God, used in a critical context.
Joseph Popham
minor
Also known as Joe, Joseph, Popham, Bolge Bluebin, Bolge Bluebin Barlow
A character mentioned in the preface, possibly a historical figure.
Ambrose
minor
Also known as Ambrose
A character mentioned in the preface.
Nunk
minor
Also known as Nunk
A character mentioned in the preface.
Lord Dunreen
minor
Also known as Dunreen
A character mentioned in the preface.
Sir Fuller Eastwind
minor
Also known as old Eastwind, Eastwind
A character mentioned in the preface.
Father Addis
minor
Also known as Father Addis
A character mentioned in the preface.
Ethel
minor
Also known as Eth
A character mentioned in the preface.
Mimi
minor
Also known as Molly
A character mentioned in the preface.
Chloe
minor
Also known as Chloe
A character mentioned in the preface.
Cleopatra-Semiramis
minor
Also known as Cleopatra - Semiramis
A historical figure referenced in the preface.
Parry
minor
Also known as Parry
A character mentioned in the preface.
Wells
minor
Also known as Wells
H.G. Wells, mentioned in the context of evolution and society.
