The Admirable Crichton
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- This article is about the play. For the historic person known as "The Admirable Crichton", see James Crichton of Eliock and Cluny.
The Admirable Crichton is a play written in 1902 by J. M. Barrie.
The title character is the butler to Lord Leams, a British peer. Leams considers the class divisions in British society to be artificial, but Crichton considers them "the natural outcome of a civilised society".
When Leams, his family, and Crichton are stranded on a deserted island Crichton is the only one of the party with any practical knowledge, and he assumes, initially with reluctance, the position of leader. His social betters refuse to accept this state of affairs, but are driven to acquiescence by the practicalities of their situation. Crichton sets himself up in his new position with the trappings and privileges of power, just as his master had done back in Britain.
External links
- A fuller summary of the play (http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1652)