The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

Main Ideas

• Brecht masterfully exposes the mechanisms by which a dictator comes to power, turning the story of Arturo Ui into an allegory of the rise of totalitarianism, where crime and violence become tools of political ascent.
• The play reveals how a society steeped in fear and indifference becomes complicit in evil, allowing tyranny to take root and flourish.
• The author explores the nature of manipulation and demagoguery, showing how words and images can be turned into weapons that subject the masses to the will of one man.
• Brecht uses grotesque and satire to highlight the absurdity and danger of political blindness, urging the audience toward critical thinking and civic responsibility.
• The play serves as a warning: history repeats itself where the past is forgotten, and evil finds fertile ground in human weakness and apathy.