The Relationship Between Maternity and War as Illustrated in “Mother Courage and Her Children.”

Answer

Discuss briefly the relationship between maternity and war as illustrated in “Mother Courage and Her Children.” 

In “Mother Courage and Her Children” (1939), the relationship between maternity and war is complex and tragic. Mother Courage’s role as both a mother and a businesswoman shows how war affects her ability to care for her children. War forces her to focus more on profit than on her maternal duties, which leads to the death of her children.

Mother Courage’s Conflict: Mother Courage deeply cares about her children—Eilif, Swiss Cheese, and Kattrin. She follows the army with her goods wagon and stays close to them. She makes money by selling her goods to ensure her family survives the war.

The central conflict in the play is that Mother Courage’s actions as a tradeswoman often contradict her role as a mother. When her son Swiss Cheese is captured, she can save him by paying a ransom. However, instead of immediately handing over the money, she tries to bargain, saying,

Must keep a bit back” (Scene 3).

Her hesitation leads to Swiss Cheese being executed. This tragic event highlights how her desire to protect her business overrides her love for her son in that critical moment. Even when Kattrin sacrifices herself to save a village by banging on a drum, Mother Courage’s first concern is to continue her business after her daughter’s death. She says,

Got to get back to business again (Scene 12)

It shows how deeply her role as a tradeswoman has consumed her identity, leaving little room for her to grieve as a mother.

In conclusion, the conflict of Mother Courage strikingly captures the relationship between maternity and war. Her dual roles highlight the destructive power of war and capitalism, which push individuals into making impossible choices.