Mother Courage and Her Children: Analysis of Major Characters
"Mother Courage and Her Children" is a poignant exploration of the impact of war through the lens of its central character, Mother Courage, a resilient woman who sells supplies during the Thirty Years' War. At about forty years old, she is driven by a fierce determination to profit from the conflict, which ultimately leads to her tragic personal losses, including the deaths of her three children. Each child embodies different traits: Eilif, her elder son, represents bravery but meets a grim fate; Swiss Cheese, her younger son, is honest and suffers for his integrity; and Kattrin, her mute daughter, showcases compassion but pays the ultimate price for her selflessness. The narrative critiques the ruthless nature of warfare, emphasizing the irony that virtuous qualities can lead to downfall. Supporting characters like Yvette, a hardened prostitute, and a cynical military chaplain further illustrate the harsh realities of life shaped by conflict. Through these intertwined lives, the play questions the morality of war and the complexities of human nature within such a brutal context.
Mother Courage and Her Children: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Bertolt Brecht
First published: Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder, 1949 (English translation, 1941)
Genre: Play
Locale: Europe
Plot: Play of ideas
Time: 1624–1636
Anna Fierling, called Mother Courage, a camp follower about forty years old who sells supplies from a canteen wagon to both sides in the Thirty Years' War. She got the nickname after her mad drive through the bombardment of Riga, made in an attempt to sell her bread before it became too moldy. Mother Courage is an inveterate haggler and trader who profits from the war and dreads the coming of peace. Although she retains several endearing qualities, she is nevertheless the focus of the author's criticism of war and those who would profit from it. Even as she loses each of her three children (fathered by three different men) to the war, Mother Courage is unable to extract herself from it. Her harsh view of life is summarized in “The Song of the Great Capitulation,” which states that the individual must abandon romantic dreams and swallow what life imposes on him or her, and “The Song of the Great Souls of this Earth,” which maintains that one's greatest virtues are at once the cause of one's downfall. The latter song (though sung by another character) reflects the destiny of Mother Courage's children, whose demise is brought about by the prominent character traits—bravery, honesty, and compassion—featured in the song. Mother Courage believes that the presence of virtues is “a sure sign something's wrong” but never comprehends the lesson of war and plies her trade until the end.
Eilif Noyocki, Mother Courage's elder son, known for his intelligence and bravery. Over his mother's objections, he joins the army, where he is first honored for heroism, then executed for a similar deed during a brief moment of peace.
Swiss Cheese Feyos, Mother Courage's younger son, unintelligent but distinguished by his great integrity. As an honest man, Swiss Cheese is entrusted with the regimental treasury, and his refusal to divulge its whereabouts to the enemy leads to his execution.
Kattrin Haupt, the only daughter of Mother Courage. She is mute, as the result of a soldier's attack, and facially disfigured from a later assault. Her character is marked by tenderhearted compassion, which costs her her life. Kattrin is shot while drumming frantically on a roof to warn a city of an impending attack.
Yvette Pottier (pah-tee-AY), an attractive young prostitute whom war has hardened to the perils of love. In “The Fraternization Song,” she tells of her fall from innocence at the age of sixteen with the cook of an enemy regiment, who soon deserted her. Mother Courage uses Yvette as an example to Kattrin of the dangers of sentiment. Yvette also serves as a mediator in the futile negotiations to save the life of Swiss Cheese and ultimately achieves a measure of prosperity by marrying an aged colonel.
The cook, Peter Lamb, the man who seduced the teenage Yvette. Like Mother Courage, he makes a career from war. When he inherits a small tavern in Holland, however, he is ready to enter civilian life and offers Mother Courage a share in the business, which she declines. It is the cook who sings “The Song of the Great Souls of This Earth.”
The military chaplain, a cynical representation of organized religion's role in war. While living comfortably in the commander's service, the chaplain uses his office to prepare men for killing and dying, referring to the war as “a special one, a religious one” in which it is “a blessing” to die. Despite his cowardice in the face of the enemy, the chaplain is a strong supporter of war and believes in its inevitability and benefits. For a few years, he travels with Mother Courage, still living off the war, and vies with the cook for the companionship of Mother Courage.