Why Does Mother Courage Refuse to Marry the Cook?
Mother Courage and Her Children is a notable literary work by Bertolt Brecht. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Mother Courage and Her Children.
Answer
Why does Mother Courage refuse to marry the Cook? [NU: 2019]
Bertolt Brecht’s (1898–1956) “Mother Courage and Her Children” (1941) shows how war destroys love, family, and dreams. The Cook offers marriage to Mother Courage. But she refuses. Her decision is shaped by her children, her wagon, and her endless trade.
She Cannot Abandon Kattrin: The Cook tells Mother Courage he can give her food and shelter, but only if she leaves Kattrin behind. Mother Courage refuses because she loves her daughter. Kattrin is mute and scarred, but still her child. She says she cannot throw away her own blood. In the story, this shows her conflict: she is a tradeswoman, but also a mother.
She Cannot Leave the Wagon: The Cook wants to settle in Utrecht, far from war. But Mother Courage has her wagon full of goods. The wagon is her life. Earlier, she sang:
“Here’s Mother Courage and her wagon!
Hey, Captain, Let them come and buy!”
The wagon gives her bread and survival. She refuses marriage because she cannot leave her trade. For her, business is stronger than love.
War does not Allow Peace: The Cook’s offer looks like safety, but Mother Courage knows war will not end. She says she must follow armies because war brings business. At the end, she proves this by pulling her wagon again. She rejects marriage because war still controls her life.
Mother Courage refuses to marry the Cook because she will not abandon Kattrin, she will not give up her wagon, and she knows war gives her survival. Her refusal shows the contradiction of her life: she wants love and safety, but she chooses trade and war.