Mother Courage and Her Children

Main Characters and Their Development

• Mother Courage (Anna Fierling) - the main character of the play, a trader who follows the army to make a living from the war. She symbolizes the contradiction between maternal care and the pursuit of profit. Throughout the play, she loses all her children but continues her journey, unaware that the war has destroyed her life.
• Eilif - Mother Courage's eldest son, brave and ambitious, but his quest for heroism leads to his death. He represents the youth who fall victim to war.
• Swiss Cheese - Mother Courage's younger son, honest and naive, works as a paymaster in the army. His honesty and commitment to duty lead to his tragic death.
• Kattrin - Mother Courage's mute daughter, who, despite her muteness, shows great humanity and heroism. She sacrifices herself to warn a town of an impending attack, and her death becomes the climax of the tragedy.
• The Cook - a companion of Mother Courage, cynical and pragmatic, she offers Courage a chance to stay with her in a safe place, but Courage refuses.
• The Chaplain - a companion of Mother Courage, representing religion and the moral dilemmas arising during war. His relationship with Courage is complex and contradictory.