In the first Act, Lady Britomart, a woman of fifty, is introduced The daughter of the Earl of Stevenage, she has always moved in aristocratic circles; in fact, she does not know anything beyond the upper class society in which she lives. Although she is well read and efficient, she is most known for her sharp tongue. As a mother, she is characterized by scolding and chiding her offspring. When the play opens, Lady Britomart calls for her son Stephen, who is twenty-five years of age. She wants to discuss an important matter with him. When he comes on stage, she tells him that he is now old enough to take on some of the responsibilities of the family business. During the course of their conversation, it is revealed that Lady Britomart also has two daughters, both of them engaged. She also reveals that she is estranged from her husband, Mr. Undershaft, a wealthy businessman; he owns a munitions factory and has made huge profits by selling guns and canons all over the world. Stephen is ashamed of his father's profession. Stephen and his sisters do not really know their father, for he has made no effort to stay in contact with them. As a result, Stephen is shocked to learn that his mother has invited his father to come over. The purpose of the visit is to have Mr. Undershaft agree to some kind of permanent income for their daughters after the two young women are married. Even before Andrew Undershaft appears on the scene, Lady Britomart gives a sense of his nature as she talks about the "great Undershaft tradition". Included in this tradition is the fact that the Undershaft munitions factory, worth million of pounds, is not to be inherited by a blood relative of the Undershaft family. Instead, an orphan is to be selected as the heir on the basis of his abilities and trained to take over the huge Undershaft Empire. When Stephen hears this story, he tells his mother that he is not interested in his father's money nor his property, especiall...
