Reid Farber
Most plays
contain a linear plot with a conflict between characters, which contain a clear
protagonist with a true mission. Works of theater that display the fundamental
assumptions of drama clearly show the main character’s morals and values
throughout the play, even if there is significant character development in
which these change. In the play Mother Courage and Her Children, by
Bertolt Brecht, there is a protagonist, mother courage, whom expresses a
disguised dichotomy within her value system. Brecht provides the reader with a
debated discussion, whether the deeper underlining actions of Mother Courage
are based in morality or selfishness. Creating a confusing character, which
requires deep analysis, Brecht is defying the expectations of the reader of
what a play should convey and represent. At the same time, Brecht expresses his
strong belief in Marxism and deep hatred for capitalism.
In order to
understand the character Mother Courage, one must evaluate the context in which
she is living. Immediately after the first scene, she loses one of her kids to
the war effort. Two scenes later her other son is killed due to wartime hostility.
Now as her family has been torn apart there is a lack of a strong family unit
and unity within the soldier camps in which they live. In scene three, part
two, the reader is exposed to Mother Courage’s desire for money. When the
soldiers capture Swiss Cheese, Mother Courage creates a plan to save her son
while inquiring about the monetary value of the trade. When she realizes that
she will not be able get the money from the cash box, she bargains with the
soldiers. The bargaining, that she did not even do herself, led to her son
getting shot eleven times. Unlike Yvette, who turned pale with the knowledge of
Swiss Cheese’s death, Mother Courage did not seem affected by the news or sight
of his dead body and did not even identify him as her son. Brecht is showing
the lack of unity within these characters, showing the flaws of capitalism. He
displays greed and desire for money, common in capitalism, overpowering a
mother’s love for her family. There is a sense of mockery in this situation as
a mother’s love for her family should be common-place in any society.
As a
reader, one is confused as if Mother Courage represents a courageous, goal
oriented woman or a selfish consumer. In scene one, Mother Courage is in
opposition of the recruiting officers goal to take her kids to fight in the war
effort. At this point, the reader believes she is courageous and is not afraid
of opposing men in a time which women were considered inferior. Furthermore,
she is showing her strong love and affection for her kids. As the play
progresses, the reader notices the irony of her name Mother Courage and if she
actually represents moral values. Later, the reader believes she still has love
for her children, when she does not abandon her daughter for the cook.
Eventually, the reader is in disbelief when she hardly mourns the death of her
daughter and moves on so quickly to continue her business transactions. It has
become clear to the reader that Mother Courage has let capitalism and monetary
wealth drive her life and control her value system.
Brecht
successfully constructs a main character that is hard to analyze, defying some
foundational assumptions of drama. Mother Courage might love her eldest son and
not want him to fight but at the same time she believes he has had enough
maternal love, disbanding the family unit. Brecht portrays his opposition to
capitalism and shows its negative effects, defining his point of the play.
Furthermore, his play acts as a object of propaganda for Marxism, explaining
the importance of unity and cooperation during war.
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