The whole play is the apotheosis of human will. If people want to, they will be immortal. In any case, it is in the power of people to extend their lives to the Methuselah century. One of the heroes of the play, biologist Konrad Barnabas, has proved on a number of experiments that a person, by exerting his will, can live hundreds and hundreds of years. The biologist has a brother, a politician, he preaches this theory everywhere. Lloyd George and Asquith hunt for the Barnabas, each strives to get them in his party in order to secure the majority of the votes in the elections.
