Mother (play)

Mother, also known as Mutter Courage und ihre Kinder (Mother Courage and Her Children), is a play written by Bertolt Brecht between 1938 and 1939. It is considered one of the most important plays of the 20th century and a landmark anti-war drama.

The play follows Anna Fierling, nicknamed "Mother Courage," a canteen woman who pulls her wagon of goods across the battlefields of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). Mother Courage profits from the war, selling provisions and goods to soldiers of both sides. However, the play ultimately demonstrates that war does not benefit ordinary people, and Mother Courage's efforts to profit from the conflict lead to the loss of all three of her children.

Brecht wrote the play in response to the Nazi invasion of Poland, and it serves as a critique of those who attempt to benefit from war and a warning about the devastating consequences of conflict. The play's episodic structure and use of alienation effects (Verfremdungseffekt) are characteristic of Brecht's epic theatre style.

The central themes of Mother Courage and Her Children include the destructive nature of war, the exploitation of civilians during wartime, the complex relationship between morality and survival, and the corrupting influence of greed. The play examines the ways in which war dehumanizes individuals and destroys families.

Notable productions of Mother Courage have featured prominent actresses in the title role, including Helene Weigel (Brecht's wife) in the original 1941 production, and later productions starring Lotte Lenya, Simone Signoret, and Meryl Streep. The play continues to be performed and studied worldwide.