Bertolt Brecht (1898-Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)1956)

Eugen Berthold Friedrich Eugen Berthold Friedrich BrechtBrecht

He was born on 10th Feb 1898 in Augsburg, GermanyHe was born on 10th Feb 1898 in Augsburg, Germany

After theAfter the war, he moved to Berlin where he was attracted to war, he moved to Berlin where he was attracted to modern theatermodern theater

Appointed as a consultant in 1924 in Deutches Theater in BerlinAppointed as a consultant in 1924 in Deutches Theater in Berlin

In 1933 to 1941 he went on In 1933 to 1941 he went on exile in Scandinavia (mainly in exile in Scandinavia (mainly in Denmark)Denmark)

Until 1947 he lived in the USA Until 1947 he lived in the USA where he did some film work where he did some film work inin Hollywood Hollywood

In this period, his books were In this period, his books were burned and his citizenship was burned and his citizenship was withdrawnwithdrawn

He was cut off German theaterHe was cut off German theater

In this period away from In this period away from Germany, Brecht wrote most Germany, Brecht wrote most of his greatest plays, major of his greatest plays, major theoretical essays and theoretical essays and dialoguesdialogues

Dramatic TheatrePlotHas a beginning, middle and end. Issues raised in the play

are resolved. (well-made play)

Implicates the spectator in a stage situationSuggests to the spectator that what he or she is watching is

just like real life.

Provides spectator with sensationsA theatre of illusion, with ideas reinforced.

ExperienceThe audience feels what the actors feel

The spectator is involved in somethingThe audience is swept up in the characters, the plot, the

ideas

Suggestion

Instinctive feelings are preserved

The spectator is in the thick of it, shares the experience

The human being is taken for granted

The human being is unalterable

Eyes on the finish

One scene makes another

Linear development

Evolutionary determinism

The human being is a fixed point

Thought determines being

Feeling

Epic TheatreNarrativeBegins anywhere, continues and stops. Issues are not

resolved.

Turns the spectator into an observer but arouses his capacity for action

The spectator can question what he/she is seeing.

Forces spectator to take decisionsMakes it clear that there are problems to be solved.

Picture of the worldThe audience is not emotionally involved.

The spectator is made to face somethingThe audience is forced to reconsider their ideas because

of what they see.

Argument

Brought to the point of recognition

The spectator stands outside, studies

The human being is an object of inquiry

The human being is alterable and able to alterChange is possible, both in oneself and in the world

Eyes on the course

Each scene for itselfSee narrative

In curves, broken up

Jumps

The human being is a process

Social being determines thought

Reason

-Brecht wanted theatre to make a change.

-He wanted a theatre where people could make their own decisions.

-He wanted to educate the audience.

-He wanted the audience to think.

-The audience must not be emotionally involved with characters or plot.

-They must be forced to make decisions about what they see.

VerfremdungseffektVerfremdungseffekt ““Alienation effect”Alienation effect” Acting in the third person (traffic accident).Acting in the third person (traffic accident). Presentational as opposed to Presentational as opposed to

Representational.Representational. Actors and audience are encouraged to not, Actors and audience are encouraged to not,

at any point, feel that they are the character at any point, feel that they are the character they are portraying.they are portraying.

Characters are not representative of Characters are not representative of individuals, but of social groups or types.individuals, but of social groups or types.

Attempts to create a space between Attempts to create a space between audience and actors.audience and actors.

TechniquesTechniques

Three-dimensional set piecesThree-dimensional set piecesUsage of machineriesUsage of machineries Insistence on the actors Insistence on the actors

demonstrating through physical demonstrating through physical disposition of the body their disposition of the body their Gestus Gestus (attitude)(attitude)

Predisposing the audience so that it Predisposing the audience so that it concentrates on how and what will concentrates on how and what will happen in advancehappen in advance

The set and props were The set and props were on stage only if the on stage only if the were necessary for were necessary for telling the storytelling the story..

The lights were to be in The lights were to be in full view of the full view of the audience, as were their audience, as were their operatorsoperators..

Music was meant to Music was meant to comment on or conflict comment on or conflict with the action on with the action on stagestage..

Structure of music halls Structure of music halls so that each element so that each element of the play should of the play should operate on its ownoperate on its own..

Greatest works:Greatest works: Mutter Courage und Ihre Kinder (Mother Courage Mutter Courage und Ihre Kinder (Mother Courage

and her Children; first performed 1941;)and her Children; first performed 1941;)

•• Leben des Galilei (Life of Galileo; 1943)Leben des Galilei (Life of Galileo; 1943)

•• Der Gute Mensch von Sezuan (The Good Person of Der Gute Mensch von Sezuan (The Good Person of Sezuan; 1943), andSezuan; 1943), and

•• Der Kaukasische Kreidekreis (The Caucasian Der Kaukasische Kreidekreis (The Caucasian Chalk-Circle; performed in English, 1947; in Chalk-Circle; performed in English, 1947; in

German, not till 1954).German, not till 1954).

Mother Mother Courage and Courage and her Children, her Children, 19411941

The life of The life of Galileo, 1943Galileo, 1943

Major themes:Major themes:

--Lower Classes Lower Classes DurinDuring g WartimeWartime

--Courage Courage

--War as BusinessWar as Business

--MotherhoodMotherhood

Mother Mother CCourage : ourage : ˝ I won't let you spoil ˝ I won't let you spoil my war for me. Destroys the weak, my war for me. Destroys the weak, does it? Well, what does peace do does it? Well, what does peace do for'em, huh? War feeds its people for'em, huh? War feeds its people better. ˝better. ˝

An An anti-war play anti-war play depicting the depicting the evils of warevils of war

Brecht's Brecht's characters are characters are negative heroes, negative heroes, like Mother like Mother Courage Courage

The war takes all The war takes all her children one her children one by oneby one

She is trying to She is trying to make a profit make a profit from the system from the system that exploits her.that exploits her.

As a work of "epic theater," Mother Courage does not have As a work of "epic theater," Mother Courage does not have Aristotelian model of plotAristotelian model of plot..

There are not many props on the stage with the exception of There are not many props on the stage with the exception of money and the wagon. money and the wagon.

The use of musicThe use of music The use of episodic plotThe use of episodic plot

““Tilly’s victory at Tilly’s victory at Magdeburg costs Mother Magdeburg costs Mother

Courage fourCourage four

officers’ shirts”officers’ shirts”

LIFE OF GALILEOLIFE OF GALILEO

Brecht wrote very few Brecht wrote very few plays in his last years plays in his last years in Berlin, none of in Berlin, none of them as famous as his them as famous as his previous works. Some previous works. Some of his most famous of his most famous poems, however, poems, however, including the including the "Buckower Elegies", "Buckower Elegies", were from this time. were from this time.

Brecht died in Brecht died in 19561956 of of a a heart attackheart attack at the at the age of 58.age of 58.

ReferencesReferences

http://www.cs.brandeis.edu/~jamesf/goodwohttp://www.cs.brandeis.edu/~jamesf/goodwoman/brecht_bio.htmlman/brecht_bio.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertolt_Brechthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertolt_Brecht

Brecht, Bertolt: Brecht, Bertolt: Mother Courage and her ChildrenMother Courage and her Children Brecht, Bertolt: Brecht, Bertolt: The Good Woman of SetzuanThe Good Woman of Setzuan Brecht, Bertolt: Brecht, Bertolt: The Life of GalileoThe Life of Galileo Brockett, Oscar: Brockett, Oscar: History of the TheatreHistory of the Theatre Williams, Raymond: Williams, Raymond: Drama from Ibsen to BrechtDrama from Ibsen to Brecht