The Characters Of Motherhood In Mother Courage By Berlot Brecht

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Berlot Brecht was born into a middle class family in, Bavaria. His masterpiece “Mother Courage” was written in 1941 during his stay in Sweden. The work was inspired by the invasion of Poland and was completed in 6 months. In this essay, I will be discussing a leading theme which is prominent throughout “mother courage”, motherhood. The character of Mother Courage herself, from my understanding is controversial, from one side; she constantly attempts to run her business from a canteen wagon to support her and the children during the times of war. From the other side, she is displayed as a person with a coldhearted business sense. She is also shown as the mother who failed to protect her children from the war.

Motherhood is the idea of giving birth, protecting and caring for one’s child. Mother courage’s children, Eilif, Swiss cheese & Kattrin, all come from various ethnicities, this goes to prove that mother courage is a sexually active woman with many partners. Mother courage’s characteristics are in great contrasts with her daughter’s, Kattrin is sexually inactive and wants a stable family, but her disabilities/disfigurements bar her from this dream, this difference emphasizes on the deeply contrasting characteristics of two of the main characters.
Kattrin has met amends to the fact that she will never be with the joy of having her own child, instead she devotes her love to the children she meets. This lack of experience of a genuine and proper motherhood could have

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