Dr. Jonathan

"Dr. Jonathan" by Winston Churchill is a three-act drama created during World War I that looks at class differences, financial freedom, and basic human rights, particularly as they relate to labor problems made worse by the war. Key characters include George Pindar, whose father owns a factory, and Dr. Jonathan Pindar, his cousin. Dr. Jonathan has come back to their New England home to deal with ideas about freedom and worker rights during a time of great social change. The play starts in Asher Pindar's library, where he and his son talk about the war and how things are between workers and their bosses. There's tension as George gets ready to go to war because they disagree on how to run the family business and how unhappy the workers are, especially about not being able to join a union. Dr. Jonathan, a cousin with a science background, adds a new point of view, stressing how important economic fairness is for real political freedom. Through clever talk and the personal problems of the characters, the first part of the play sets the scene for looking at the important social issues of the time.