Motherhood

After reading or witnessing the play, there is no doubt amongst the audience or reader’s mind about the justice served when Azdak renders his verdict in the final case. Not only is Natella’s ineptitude at motherhood appalling to the extent that one may be tempted to term her guardianship as child abuse, but Grusha is Brecht’s attempt at portraying the quintessential mother figure; she is not simply an adequate but a superb mother, despite not sharing genetic code with her son.

Grusha’s justification for her position as Michael’s mother in Azdak’s court perfectly encapsulates Brecht symbol of motherhood: “I brought him up like the priest says ‘according to my best knowledge and conscience.’ I always found him something to eat. Most of the time he had a roof over his head, And I went to such trouble for hm, I...