Symbolism In Mother Courage And Her Children

Brecht uses the play Mother Courage and Her Children as an allegory, displaying his political views, and intends to warn the German public against the pending war. Brecht believes that the war will fill the pockets of the great powers, at the expense of the general population. Through Mother Courage and Her Children, he displays many of these views through symbolism in the characters of Courage and Kattrin. By playing the two characters as foils against each other, Brecht can show the differences between the two ideologies, and can show Kattrin 's character, and hence socialism in a more positive light.

Mother Courage is pro war since her livelihood depends on war. This is most apparent in the stage directions at the beginning of scene …show more content…
She owes her silence to the war as explained by Courage in scene 6. “..she 's only dumb from war, soldier stuffed something in her mouth when she was little” (p.160). Kattrin was assaulted by a soldier, showing the horrific things that happen in war. Kattrin also wishes to get married, but is not allowed until the war ends. This leaves Kattrin hoping the war will end. In this, Kattrin is like the average european citizen of the time, wishing for …show more content…
In the penultimate scene of the play, Kattrin is alone in the cart, beside a peasant house, as her mother has gone into town to sell goods. She and the peasant family are awoken by catholic soldiers. They are supported by a full regiment of troops, and plan on storming the nearby village of Halle by night. As the troops go with the peasant 's son into the town, Kattrin climbs to the roof and begins to beat her drum in an attempt to warn the village of the coming attack. Kattrin saves the villagers, but is ultimately shot for her troubles by the catholic soldiers. “For the very last time: stop drumming! Kattrin, in tears, drums as loud as she can. Fire!” In this act, Kattrin puts the lives of the masses ahead of her own life. This is a classic socialist value exemplified by Kattrin. Although she was told to stop or be shot, she continued beating the drum. The manner of Kattrin 's heroism is also ironic. Although she is mute, she makes herself heard, and uses the drum as her voice. The irony accentuates her actions, and allows the audience to consider Brecht 's message further. Using this scene, Brecht makes Kattrin the heroine of the play, and cements the value of her socialist actions, over Courage 's