“Mother Courage and Her Children” is an anti-war play. Discuss.

Answer

“Mother Courage and Her Children” is an anti-war play. Discuss. [NU: 2018, 21] ★★★

Bertolt Brecht’s (1898–1956) play “Mother Courage and Her Children” (1941) was written during the Second World War. Brecht hated war. He wanted to show that war does not bring glory, but only loss. In this play, the Thirty Years’ War forms the background. The story of Mother Courage and her children shows how war destroys families, spoils morals, and ruins common people.

War Destroys Family Bonds: 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!”

She seems happy with Eilif, Swiss Cheese, and Kattrin. But soon, the Recruiting Officer takes Eilif away. Later, Swiss Cheese is shot, and Kattrin is killed. War tears the family apart. Brecht shows through the story that war never protects families. It only breaks them.

War Changes Morality into Crime: Eilif is praised as a hero when he steals cattle and kills peasants. The Commander rewards him. He sings proudly,

“The soldier laughs and loads his gun.”

Mother Courage warns him,

“Didn’t I teach you to take care of yourself, you Finnish devil, you?”

But later, when peace comes, Eilif is executed for the same act. War turns crime into heroism and then back into crime. Brecht’s message is clear: war has no moral truth. It only uses people and then destroys them.

War Exploits Honesty and Loyalty: Swiss Cheese becomes paymaster. Mother Courage says, 

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

He keeps the regimental cash box safe, even when captured. But this honesty does not save him. Mother Courage tries to ransom him, but bargains too long. Soldiers shoot him. Brecht shows the anti-war truth: in war, honesty has no value. War