Three Plays by Granville-Barker

In The Voysey Inheritance the story centers on Edward Voysey who discovers that his father a respected lawyer has been embezzling clients’ money for years. Edward must grapple with the moral implications of his father’s actions and his own role in either covering up or exposing the family’s deceit. The play critically examines themes of ethics loyalty and the conflicts that arise within a family and a professional legacy tainted by corruption. Waste often considered Granville-Barker’s masterpiece deals with political and personal ruin through the character of Henry Trebell an ambitious politician whose career is derailed by a scandalous affair. The play examines the intersections of political ideals personal ambition and societal hypocrisy highlighting the cost of power and the strict moral codes of the time. The Madras House delves into issues of gender family and societal change focusing on a British family involved in the garment trade and exploring the contrasts between Eastern and Western cultures. Granville-Barker’s plays are distinguished by their social realism psychological insight and progressive approach to topics that challenged Edwardian social norms marking him as a pivotal figure in the evolution of modern drama.