Dr. Jonathan — Reading Notes

The Kaiser as a Rhetorical Weapon

Dr. Jonathan's comparison of Asher to the Kaiser is the play's most striking rhetorical move. When Asher declares he will not recognize unions but will grant demands as a matter of principle, Dr. Jonathan asks who will enforce the men's side. Asher replies, "My word," and later adds, "Under God." Dr. Jonathan retorts, "And you have God's proxy. Well, it seems to me that that is a very delightful arrangement, Asher—William appears to approve of it, too." This links Asher's paternalism to the autocracy the war was fought against. The preface notes the play was written during the war and that the true issue was self-determination, making this comparison a direct application of that theme to domestic industrial relations.

The Absent Soldier and the Strike

Bert Farrell, who has given his life for industrial democracy, is mentioned as a sacrifice that underscores the stakes. Dr. Jonathan tells Asher, "Bert Farrell has already given his life for it." Asher's reaction—"Oh God, I'm sorry—I'm sorry for Timothy"—shows personal grief but also a failure to connect Bert's death to the workers' demands. The strike vote is announced by Hillman, who insists on collective bargaining as "only self-respecting." The timing is crucial: Asher was in Washington attending to the nation's business while the men voted. This juxtaposition of national duty and local labor conflict highlights the play's concern with democracy at home versus abroad.

The Language of Trusteeship and Autocracy

Asher's self-image as a trustee is central to his identity. He says, "Never in my life have I regarded my possessions as my own. I am a trustee." Dr. Jonathan's response—"The sole trustee"—exposes the flaw: trusteeship without accountability is autocracy. The preface reinforces this, stating that "economic power is at last realized to be political power." The play thus dramatizes the shift from individual bargaining to collective bargaining as a matter of freedom, not just wages. The workers' demand is to "talk to you as man to man," a phrase that echoes the democratic ideal of equal voice.

Readers should attend to how the play uses the war as both a backdrop and a rhetorical resource. The preface warns that subliminal desires and fears can lead to fanatical creeds, and the play tests whether industrial conflict can take an ordered, intelligent course. The incomplete excerpts leave unclear how the strike resolves, but the central debate—between benevolent autocracy and industrial democracy—is fully staged. The play is a document of its moment, wrestling with questions that remain pertinent.

There’s a moment in Dr. Jonathan’s reading notes where the mill-town arguments feel less like politics and more like the ache of family mismatches. That older compilation, Shakspeare and His Times — Reading Notes, sits nearby on my shelf, and I keep thinking how the same stubborn pride echoes across those centuries. Just something about men talking past each other, even when they share a name.