What type of play is it?
Didactic
What themes?
Justice, morality and power
What does it criticise?
Capitalist society and Nazism
What does he promote?
Marxist views influenced by Lenin
When was it written
1944 whilst in exile
What happened as a result of his criticism of Nazisim?
- books were burned by Nazi gov 1933
- Nazi seized his property and car and froze his bank account
= in an attempt to eliminate political opposition
How did his time in exile inform the principles of epic theatre?
provoking critical thought and exploring political issues = to promote social change to audience
What magazine did he co-edit?
Anti Nazi magazine “Das Wort”
What example of non western theatre inspired him? How?
Japanese “Noh” theatre
- “artificial” looking set = distancing
- no curtains
- tech elements visible
- archetypal characters
What did jape
How much did small business profits decrease in Germany?
20% (targeted working class)
When did wages fall in Germany ?
1933-39
How much did working hours increase in Germany?
15%
How did his time in exile in the Soviet Union inspire him?
- observed the socialist systems
- Russia 1940s (prologue)
- high unemployment
- poor living standards
- famine 1947
What did Brecht want theatre to be?
Angry, vivid, challenging and anti-cathartic
When was the Great Depression?
1930s
What parable narratives inspired CCC?
- ancient Chinese tale “Li Qianfu” (pull the child to obtain it)
- the story of king Solomon (suggests cutting child in half )
