Mother Courage and Her Children

Novel | Bertolt Brecht
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Write the historical context of “Mother Courage and Her Children.”

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Write the historical context of “Mother Courage and Her Children.” [NU: 2018, 22] ★★★

Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) published “Mother Courage and Her Children” in 1941, during the Second World War. The play is set during the Thirty Years’ War. The story of Mother Courage, Eilif, Swiss Cheese, and Kattrin shows the link between history and war.

The Thirty Years’ War setting: The play takes place in Sweden, Poland, and Germany during the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648). In the Prologue, Mother Courage pulls her wagon across Poland and sings, 

“Here’s Mother Courage and her wagon!

Hey, Captain, Let them come and buy!”

The Sergeant and Recruiting Officer look for soldiers. They take away Eilif. The event shows how the long war took sons from families. Brecht uses this historical background to show war as endless destruction.

Religious and Political Wars: The war was between Catholics and Protestants. In the play, when the Catholics attack, the Cook and the C

haplain sing, 

“A mighty fortress is our God.”

Mother Courage says, 

“The trouble with Poland is the Poles.”

This shows religion and politics being used for killing. Swiss Cheese, as a Protestant paymaster, is shot when captured by Catholics. The story reminds us of real history, where faith and politics became excuses for violence.

Written During World War II: Brecht wrote the play while fleeing Hitler’s Germany in 1939. He wanted to warn against fascism and war. At the end, Mother Courage loses all her children. Kattrin dies beating the drum to save villagers near Halle. These events show how war repeats in history, from the Thirty Years’ War to the Second World War.

The historical context of “Mother Courage and Her Children” connects the Thirty Years’ War and World War II. The story of Mother Courage, Eilif, Swiss Cheese, and Kattrin in Poland, Sweden, and Germany shows how war always destroys families and nations.

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Bertolt Brecht
Literary Writer
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