In this play Brecht is strongly criticizes an idea of a war, and fascist ideology. He is talking about how everyone feeds off the war, so people like Mother Courage, Yvette and Chaplain use the war in trying to make a profit. To me it was a little depressing to read about all that, although I know its true. The war also turns human being into beasts. She predicted her children to die from their “good” qualities, but that does not destroy her will to continue on in that environment. Mother courage refuses to pay 200 galleons for Swiss and he dies. She cant bare a thought to lose money. And after all of her children are dead, she continues on with her “business”. To me its not courage, its madness, and a complete loss of the sense of what is really important. It is a masterpiece. It shows how a war desensitizes people and makes them into animals that want to make a buck.
I see where you are coming from when saying that it is not courage. Also I agree that war desensitizes people. But I do believe that Brecht's intentions were to show Mother Courage as a courageous character. It can be seen in different views because all of her children die but could she have honestly saved them? I do not think she refused to pay because she cared more about money than her son. I believe she knew that if she gave up the money she would still lose her son so her courage was that she has to accept that her son would die. Money did have a bit of a power over her to the fact that she chose to be near the war to try and make money instead of getting away from the war but after she had already put herself in the situation of the war she had to gain the courage to do what she felt she had to which was make money. I believe she was not completely desensitized by the war because she did feel the hurt for losing her children she just chose to do what she felt was courageous which was to not show her pain and move on. I believe mother courage was an amazing character and Brecht was an amazing play write.
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