Grusha

The former kitchen made and new mother of Michael, Grusha is the protagonist of Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Her choice to save and care for the child is a noble one, and she is untainted by the human corruptibility so visible in some of the other characters. What the audience witnesses is Grusha’s growing love for the child throughout the play, as she continues to protect him against his noble heritage. This arc of motherly love stemming from the relationship between mother and child, as opposed to their shared blood, is a major theme of the play.

Grusha’s character is so compelling precisely because the audience bears witness to the development of her and Michael’s relationship. At first, Grusha helps him out of pity, but their experiences together grow, she becomes more and more bonded with Michael, in exactly the same manner a...