Mother Courage and Her Children

Main Ideas

• Anti-war stance: Brecht highlights the senselessness and brutality of war, its destructive impact on people and society.
• Critique of capitalism: Through the character of Mother Courage, who profits from the war, Brecht criticizes the capitalist system where profit is valued over human life.
• Dehumanization and moral decay: War leads to the loss of moral values, reflected in the actions of the characters.
• Illusion of neutrality: Brecht shows that attempting to remain neutral in wartime is impossible and leads to tragic consequences.
• Role of women in society: Through the character of Mother Courage, the play examines the position of women during war and their struggle for survival.