THE DEVIL`S DISCIPLE

Set during the American War of Independence in a town in New Hampshire, this is Shaw’s only full-
length play set in America. The play opens on a wintery night as Mrs Dudgeon waits to hear news
about her husband. His brother was hung as a rebel and he had fallen ill on the journey to see him.
Her son Christy brings news that her husband has died. When the minister, Anthony Anderson,
arrives to bring the news of Mr Dudgeon’s will he brings even more distressing news. Her other son,
Richard (Dick), had also attended his uncle’s hanging. The lawyer announces that a new will had
been written and all of her husband’s money has been willed to Dick Dudgeon — the black sheep of
the family, known as the devil’s disciple. We move to Minister Anderson’s home where he lives with
his wife, Judith. Anderson has sent for Dick Dudgeon to warn him that he is in danger of being
hanged as the next rebel but before he can tell him, he is called to Mrs Dudgeon’s house. When the
soldiers arrive to arrest Anderson, Judith and Dick are alone and the soldiers arrest Dick, mistaking
him for the Minister. Dick does not attempt to correct their mistake and tells Judith to tell her
husband that he can depend on him, that “I am steadfast in my religion as he is in his, and that he
may depend on me to the death.” The final act of the play centres on the trial of Dick Dudgeon,
where the play’s sense of humour kicks into high gear. We’re introduced to one of Shaw’s wittiest
characters — General John Burgoyne and he and Dick wage a war of wits where Dick’s motives are
questioned. Is he a hero? A martyr? Why did Dudgeon, who seems to revere nothing outside of his
own instincts, give himself up? Was it love, country, duty?

“ C ONNECTIONS Shaw Festival Study Guide I KNEW FROM THE FIRST THAT THE DEVIL WAS MY
NATURAL MASTER AND CAPTAIN AND FRIEND. Dick Dudgeon