Mother Courage and Her Children

"Mother Courage and Her Children" is a renowned play by Bertolt Brecht, written in 1939. It tells the story of a canteen-wagon-driving woman named Mother Courage during the Thirty Years' War. She tries to profit from the war while simultaneously protecting her three children. The play explores themes of survival, war's impact on humanity, and the moral dilemmas faced in times of conflict. Brecht's use of "epic theater" encourages the audience to think critically about societal issues, rather than simply becoming emotionally involved with the characters' plight. Through Mother Courage, Brecht critiques the intersection of war and capitalism.