The Exception and the Rule

Summary

In the play "The Exception and the Rule" by Bertolt Brecht, the reader is presented with an allegorical parable about human greed, social injustice, and the twisted logic of power. Against the backdrop of a merciless desert, a merchant and his porter—belonging to different worlds—embark on a perilous journey where every step tests their humanity. The merchant, consumed by fear and suspicion, fatally kills his companion, justifying his actions by law and order. The court, embodying the soullessness of the system, deems the murder justified, for the "exception" becomes the "rule" where power and money dictate the truth. With ruthless clarity, Brecht exposes the mechanisms of social injustice, compelling the audience to reflect on the nature of morality and responsibility in a world where human life is devalued.