Consider Brecht as an innovative playwright with special reference to “Mother Courage and Her Children.”

Answer

Consider Brecht as an innovative playwright with special reference to “Mother Courage and Her Children.” [NU: 2017] ★★★ 

Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) was not a traditional playwright. He did not want to create pity or fear like Greek tragedy. He wanted the audience to think. He called his style epic theatre. In “Mother Courage and Her Children” (1941), Brecht used songs, irony, contradictions, and new stage techniques. This play shows how he became an innovative and modern dramatist.

Songs as Lessons, not Emotions: In traditional plays, songs increase feelings. But Brecht uses songs to teach lessons. In the Prologue, Mother Courage enters with her wagon. Her sons, Eilif and Swiss Cheese, pull the cart. Her daughter Kattrin plays the harmonica. Together they sing,

“Here’s Mother Courage and her wagon!

Hey, Captain, Let them come and buy!”

The happy song suddenly breaks when Eilif is taken as a soldier. The innovation is clear. The song does not deepen emotion. It interrupts the action and forces the audience to think about trade and war.

Characters Full of Contradiction: Brecht created characters with contradictions, not heroes. Mother Courage loves her children but also profits from war. When Swiss Cheese becomes paymaster, she says, 

“Don’t forget they made you paymaster because you’re honest.”

But when he is caught, she bargains too long and loses him. This contradiction is Brecht’s innovation. He shows real human weakness, not noble sacrifice. The audience does not admire; they judge.

Use of Irony and Tragic Loss: Brecht uses irony to break the illusion. Eilif is first praised for bravery when he kills peasants. He sings proudly, 

“The soldier laughs and loads his gun.”

But later, in peace, the same act makes him a criminal. He is executed. This irony is Brecht’s tool. The audience learns that war changes morality. What is right in war becomes wrong in peace. This sharp contrast is Brecht’s innovation.

Silent Kattrin and the Shocking Ending: