Majority of Don Juan stories preach the moral, “Repent and reform now; for to-morrow it may be too late." However, that is not what interested Shaw; What attracted him towards the idea of Don Juan was the fact that Juan “[dared] to be the enemy of God." Shaw believed that although on the surface Don Juan is a lustful libertine, underneath he is, “a man who, though gifted enough to be exceptionally capable of distinguishing between good and evil, follows his own instincts without regard to the common, statute, or canon law." By this, Shaw means that Don Juan has the potential for using his brain for higher purposes, but chooses to serve his own. 

Now, what if Don Juan WANTED to serve a higher purpose? This is what happens in the Don Juan in Hell sequence, which takes place over half a century after the condemnation of Juan. To make matters more interesting, Hell in this world is not full of fire and torture, quite the opposite actually. Hell is for the people eager to pursue self happiness, whereas Heaven is for the people driven to serve a greater purpose than self. Though Don Juan enjoyed the idea of Hell at first, he now feels like he has served his time. He has come to understand the consequences of his actions, and, “has unexpectedly discovered a moral in his immorality." Don Juan now bears responsibility on his shoulders and is concerned about the state of the human race. Shaw states that being a Don Juan doesn’t equal being a womanizer in this context. In fact he goes on to say that both Don Juan and Jack Tanner (from Man and Superman) are “now more Hamlet than Don Juan." This means that the Don Juan you see this evening was a reprobate in his past, but he is now a philosopher who only wants to spend his time contemplating the human brain, so he can become the Superman and change society. When Ana shows up in Hell, Don Juan makes the decision to escape Hell at last. That is, before he is interrupted by Ana’s manipulation, Don Gonzalo’s big announcement, and his continued debate with the Devil. 

Shaw’s concept of the “Superman” is influenced by the philosophical ideas of Immanuel Kant and Friedrich Nietzsche, particularly the belief in a higher type of human guided by reason, moral strength, and long-term purpose. Rather than simply transcending societal limitations, Shaw’s Superman represents an evolved individual who prioritizes the advancement of humanity over personal pleasure or conventional success. In his plays, this figure embodies Shaw’s vision of progress through rational thought, ethical responsibility, and rejecting outdated institutions that hinder human development. Although framed as a philosophical discussion, Don Juan’s arguments in Don Juan in Hell serve as a form of direct political action. Through thoughts of established religion, traditional morality, and societal structures, Shaw uses Don Juan to actively challenge the foundations of power and provoke change, not just reflection. The ideas in Don Juan In Hell reflect George Bernard Shaw’s ongoing commitment to social justice and human progress, ideas that were central to his socialist views.