By Megan Thomas
This is a Bertolt Brecht play, arguably one of the most iconic playwrights of the 20th century. It’s an abstract piece of epic theatre in the form of “a play within a play”. Written in the wake of WWII, it fully encompasses societal confusion, existential angst and hopelessness.
It’s a parable; a retelling of the story of King Solomon and two mothers fighting over a child, proving who loves him more. In this representation, it is between a peasant girl, Grusha, who has rescued the baby Michael, and his wealthy, biological mother. The plot is arguably the least important element of the play though, in comparison to its striking social commentary on everything from general humanity to socialism.
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