Mr Puntila and His Man Matti

Summary

In the play «Mr Puntila and His Man Matti», Bertolt Brecht, with irony and keen observation, reveals the contradictory nature of the Finnish landowner Puntila, whose soul is torn between bouts of kindness and flashes of cruelty. His loyal servant Matti, a sensible and sober-minded man, becomes a mirror for his master, patiently observing his swings between drunkenness and sobriety, generosity and stinginess, friendliness and despotism. Against the backdrop of the picturesque northern landscape unfolds a witty and profound parable about power, human dignity, and the illusory nature of social roles. Brecht masterfully weaves elements of folk humor, satire, and philosophical reflection into the narrative, creating a vivid and multilayered portrait of a society where everyone is forced to play a part, but not everyone is able to step beyond it.