that know many more crafts than either ofyou, am tired of myself when I am not fighting or hunting. The thought that we must not cease to be comes fromwithin. Selfish, yes: a life in which no man is his brother's keeper,because his brother can keep himself. BACK TO METHUSELAH A Metabiological Pentateuch by BERNARD SHAW 1921 Contents The Infidel Half Century The Dawn of Darwinism The Advent of the Neo-Darwinians Political Inadequacy of the Human Animal Cowardice of the Irreligious Is there any Hope Home - Books - Back to Methuselah by George Bernard Shaw This page contains affiliate links. When he falls, he shall beavenged sevenfold: the Voice has said it; so beware how you plot againstme, you and all the rest. EVE. [6][7]offers a solution: Lilith, who came before them, and was, in fact, their mother, made them male and female, so they have the ability to reproduce. CAIN. You are not stronger: you are shorter in the wind: you cannotendure. I dared everything. Their dread of death is overwhelmed by the yet more dreadful prospect of life unending, with its tedium and burdens, but they feel bound to live forever because Eden must be taken care of and they are the only ones available to do it. When you and Adam talk, I hear you say 'Why?' And as the man is nobler than the ox,I shall some day let my enemy eat the ox; and then I will slay and eathim. EVE. I was her darling as I amyours. Back to Methuselah was presented in three parts. She spins resignedly; he digs impatiently. That comes before everything. Their two greatest sculptors will show their latest masterpieces and be crowned with flowers, honoured with dithyrambs and have dances done around them. Well, will you pamper me ashe pampers his woman? ADAM. EVE. There is divine justice. But I have some thoughts that come from within me andnot from the voices. Will you die the moment you have made a new Eve? You were the one: Adam was theother. Andnettles, too! A woman approaches to ask if he needs help. There must besomething greater than the snake. there was not one new Lilith but two:one like herself, the other like Adam. It has not yet told me the secret. Let us listen to the snake. He readily admits repeatedly feigning death and explains that the laws enforcing mandatory retirement at a certain age and those controlling eligibility for pensions left him with no alternative: When his record showed him old enough to be retired, he could no longer keep his job but he was always denied a pension because he looked too young. THE SERPENT. Two brothers, one a retired, but influential cleric (Franklyn) and the other a biologist of note (Conrad), independently conclude that humans must increase their lifespans to three centuries in order to acquire the wisdom and experience needed to make complex civilizations functional. Think of it, man: to have no escape! who have thedrudgery of preparing the food? It issilly to say you do not care. THE SERPENT. She, being long lived understands no metaphors and speaks the literal truth, while he consistently uses figures of speech instead of stating simple facts. Creative Evolution, translated by Arthur Mitchell, Ph.D. New York: Henry Holt and Company (1911). ADAM. Sheer fabrication, but so pleasing to the voters that he stayed in power for another fifteen years. THE SERPENT. I know that it must not be. He became so happy that heshared his meal with the Voice that had whispered all his inventions tohim. What is the matterwith you? If I put off death until tomorrow, I shall never die. I thought for a moment that perhaps thisstrong brave son of mine, who could imagine something better, and coulddesire what he imagined, might also be able to will what he desireduntil he created it. Anybody couldbe the first man: it is as easy as to be the first cabbage. A fine dream, truly! It is a burden. That is just what I feel; but it is very strange that you shouldsay so: there is no pleasing you. THE SERPENT. ADAM. Man shall be the master ofWoman, not her baby and her drudge. An immense serpent is sleeping withher head buried in a thick bed of Johnswort, and her body coiled inapparently endless rings through the branches of a tree, which isalready well grown; for the days of creation have been longer than ourreckoning. What a frightfulthought! He can imagine: he canwill: he can desire: he can gather his life together for a great springtowards creation: he can create all things except one; and that one ishis own kind. Murder is not death. Begone. Never forget it. THE SERPENT. Dare it. Barnabas hotly contested the legality of this and favoured prosecuting. I gathered a part of the life in my body, and shut it intoa tiny white case made of the stones I had eaten. And Ihave eaten strange things: stones and apples that you are afraid to eat. Martellus laughs, but not in mockery; he says he, too, attempted such a project, but has smashed all his sculptures and thrown away his tools. Throw it into the river. THE SERPENT. By that he is tied to you. The heavens are empty, child. EVE. Burge-Lubin summons Confucius, the Chief Secretary, to brief him on governmental matters. The Voice in the garden will tell them that theymust not kill, as it tells me. BACK TO METHUSELAH The first performances of Back to Methuselah were undertaken By the Theatre Guild of New York, and began on the 27th February 1922 in the Garrick Theatre in that city. Yes: that must not be. But I know very well that what you mean isthe horror of having to be here with me for ever. Oh yes, some of them, of course. All you men, except only Adam, are my sons, or mysons' sons, or my sons' sons' sons: you all come to see me: you all shewoff before me: all your little wisdoms and accomplishments are trottedout before mother Eve. It is; and it is not. [12] The BBC, in contrast, was able to provide lavish scenery by sheer power of description for its 1958 radio production of the entire play,[13]. _Eve's face lights up with intense interest, which increases until anexpression of overwhelming repugnance takes its place. Rows of curved marble benches, spaced well apart, fan out from the altar. [_Flourishing his spear_] Try it, oldeverybody's father. EVE [_pointing to the fawn_] Like that. An oasis in Mesopotamia. I have told Cain already that he is not aman and that Lua is not a woman: they are monsters. They can conversewith difficultyand have a long discussion that reveals the advantages of long living. What is a fool? As night is falling, the children seek shelter in the temple. ADAM. THE SERPENT. That is whatmakes me sit brooding and silent and hateful. Meanwhile, the Archbishop, having learned of the furore at the Records Office, presents himself for questioning. You despise your father; but when he dies the world willbe the richer because he lived. [_He picks up his shield and spear_]. It is I who am to die. CAIN. I lived in the sweat of my brow, as you do. EVE. Choose a day for your death; and resolve to die on thatday. No: I do not think about myself: what is the use? ADAM. THE SERPENT. to beAdam, Adam, Adam through more days than there are grains of sand by thetwo rivers, and then be as far from the end as ever! ADAM [_instinctively moving his hand towards her_] Husband and wife. We have to live here for ever.Think of what for ever means! Happiness is wicked.Certainty is blessed. Your flesh ceases to grow like man's flesh: itgrows like a fungus on a tree. ADAM. I will tear.another Adam from my body if I tear my body to pieces in the act. Furthermore, one of Shaw's last plays, Farfetched Fables (1950) also classifies as science fiction,[9] and The Simpleton of the Unexpected Isles (1934). [_He goes on digging withoutraising his head_]. [_To Eve_] We have made our vows; and if you mustcreate, you shall create within the bounds of those vows. How have I changed my mind? Listen. Do. They can remembertheir dreams. He turns his face to his right and callsexcitedly. Why should I forget it? THE SERPENT. ADAM. the curses of despair!the shrieks of torment! You are still tempted. The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text ADAM. One tires of everything.There is nothing new under the sun. Boy: you have asked us a terrible question. Shaw's solution is enhanced longevity: we must learn to live much longer; a centenarian should be less than middle aged. Whatever I fear to do is wicked. Can you bear to look at himafter that? If only the rest and sleep that enable me to bear it fromday to day could grow after many days into an eternal rest, an eternalsleep, then I could face my days, however long they may last. Youshould try to have an existence of your own, instead of occupyingyourself with my existence. claim that all sensible people agree with him, put forward in Back to Methuselah by both Savvy and Professor Conrad. That is too wonderful. This work, written during 1918-1921, is comprised of a Preface and five Parts; each Part is a a complete play. When there are new Adams and new Eves we shall live in a garden ofstrangers. Yes: that is splendid: that will bind the future. He said that the Voice was the voice of the fire that cooked hisfood, and that the fire that could cook could also eat. Eve invents the word . Well, I will leave you to it, though I have shewn you a betterway. And at last I found a way of gatheringtogether a part of the life in my body--. Both politicians seize upon the promise of enhanced longevity as a way of attracting votes. It is I who must conceive. Did you find it like that? Then I, too, made an altar,and offered my food on it, my grains, my roots, my fruit. Peace, peace, you two fools. Back to Methuselah: With Fanny Rowe, Ursula Howells, Ellen Pollock, Ernest Clark. He wants me to die. To me there is only one voice. [_He sitsdown again, sulkily_]. THE SERPENT [_responding affectionately_] It is so, dear Adam. EVE. Always dig, dig, dig. Funny. Burge-Lubin excuses himself, saying he must confer privately with the Minister of Health. They can dream without sleeping. She said it must never be again: that theburden of renewing life was past bearing: that it was too much for one.And when she cast the skin, lo! ADAM. EVE. There is somethingthat holds us together, something that has no word--. I should be alone. That may come too. Shaw's scientific rationale for evolving long-lived humans depended on the inheritance of acquired characteristics. Adam: we need not livefor ever. Whereupon she vanishes, the lighting turns to daylight and the abyss is no more. I tell you it must not be. They have come to consult the oracle about matters of utmost importance. Oh! But I dream things that never were; and Isay 'Why not?' You can imagine such an end; but you cannot desire it,therefore cannot will it, therefore cannot create Adams only. CAIN. I revolt against these births that you and mother are so proudof. I have another thought: I must tell it to Adam. EVE [_thoughtfully_] There can be no such thing as nothing. Alone for ever. THE SERPENT. information about this edition . That is very true. The world is wide enough to keep usapart. He need not. EVE. We shall need each other. [_She comes quickly behind him andturns up his face to her_]. EVE. Well, as the serpent used to say, why not? 4004 (In the Garden of Eden), The Gospel of the Brothers Barnabas: Present Day, The Thing Happens: A.D. 2170, Tragedy of an Elderly Gentleman: A.D. 3000, and As Far as Thought Can Reach: A.D. 31,920. His prime interest was not scientific, but political, as stated in the Preface where he discusses changes he considers essential before mankind can govern itself successfully. The sun will give life. Burge-Lubin is chiding himself indulgently for mixing romance with business when Barnabas bursts in, completely overwhelmed. They cannot renew themselves without Eves. David Fielding's abridgement has succeeded in shortening this five-part play down to 4 fascinating hours. Sooner or later I shall trip and fall. CAIN. It was true: Isaw the fire consume the food on his altar. Lua was awoman-child when I bore her. THE SERPENT. It is very low; but it is so nearthat it is like a whisper from within myself. I can never be alone.You always want to know what I have been doing. For that is what it would come to,just as it came to lambs and kids when Abel began with sheep and goats.You are a poor silly creature after all. EVE. EVE. [11] Unlike the plays Shaw wrote for staging, which include precise descriptions of the settings, the details of stage settings for Methuselah are sketchy and serve only to direct the imagination of the reader. CAIN. And now you want tomake still more unnatural monsters, so that you may be utterly lazy andworthless, and that your tamed human animals may find work a blastingcurse. [_He strides to the thornbrake_]. I callit fighting. But you used to complainof having to exist always and for ever. He is to take an aeroplane to the location and be dropped near the yacht by parachute. But they might not be quite the same. Go on with your work, I tell you; or you shall go without bread. ADAM. A few centuries slip by; Eve and Adam have aged a bit, but otherwise have changed but little: She spends her time by spinning flax for weaving, he digs in the garden. [_He spits on his hands, and takes up the spadeagain_]. 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