Man Equals Man

Historical Context and Significance

Bertolt Brecht's play «Man Equals Man» emerged at a turning point in history, when Europe, shaken by the aftermath of the First World War, was searching for new ways to express human nature and social relations. In this work, Brecht incisively exposes the mechanisms of depersonalization under militarism and faceless collectivism, turning the fate of the simple porter Galy Gay into an allegory of the fragility of human identity. The play's influence on culture is evident in the formation of epic theatre, where the audience is not merely empathetic but also reflective, analytical, becoming both witness and participant in moral experiments. «Man Equals Man» became a cornerstone of the theatre of alienation, inspiring directors and playwrights to seek new expressive means, while raising questions about human nature, the capacity for change, and submission to circumstance—questions that still resonate in contemporary interpretations and cultural debates.