Man and Superman - The World of The Play

The time is 1905. This period of time was marked by significant change all across the world, be it from the arenas of science, art, politics or industry. It was at this time that American imperialism reached what many would call its zenith, leading into the approximately eight-month Spanish American War. Naturally, this earned the States a few enemies, although England remained in steadfast support of its former colony, save for scattered anti-American publications.

In the east, far from Cuba and its troubles, conflict erupted in Czarist Russia in the form of bloody protest and rebellion. Although the rebellion was quashed, it was not without cost: the seeds of bolshevism had been sown and would eventually lead to the birth of the Soviet Union.

Industry made many leaps and bounds in this period, both in research and production. Aspirin was first produced at the turn of the century, and simple and true lifesaver. Henry Ford had just founded Ford Motor Company, soon to change the world with its revolutionary Model T made affordable by assembly lines and other advances. The RMS Oceanic launched at the turn of the century, ushering in a new era of luxury sea travel, years before its famous sister sank.

Scientifically, the world was just entering a centruy of unprecedented technological advancement. Albert Einstein published his Special Theory of Relativity in 1905, thereby jump-starting the career of one of the most prominent thinkers the modern world has seen. Sigmund Freud published The Interpretation of Dreams in 1900, marking the entry into serious psychological exploration of the unconscious human mind.

Art was not to be left behind either. Matisse revealed his first works in Paris, causing a clamor amongst the art world. Claude Monet produced some of his most enduring works during this period, and music flourished with operatic thunder.

Despite all this rapid change around the world, England was slow to adapt its ways. Despite fighting an insurrection in Sudan, very little changed, as much was done to preserve the status quo. However, Australia was recognized by the crown to be a commonwealth realm in 1900, subject to its own laws and customs, much as Canada was, though still featuring the monarch as head of state (purely for decorational purposes). One of the most significant things to change in England during this time was education. Moves were made to institute the first true public schools as we think of them now as well as institute a maximum work-day for children so as to avoid abuse of the child labor force, and the working class was becoming slowly but surely more aware of the necessity of their station within the machinery of the state. A sense and sentiment of psuedo-equality was on the rise among the working poor, soon to abolish the (up to that point) typical English servant (think of a stereotypical butler).

The upper class, around whom this play primarily orbits, was little affected by many of the advances made in industry and science (or politics for that matter), as their lives were primarily ones of leisure and free time with little concern for such things.That being said, status and morality were of great concern to them. Dealing with the newly rich, or the titled-though-poor English nobility, became something of a pastime, class being of great concern in the UK. Added to the complexity of the situation was the recently found upward mobility of the rich from America and Ireland.