Bertolt Brecht

Easton Press Bertolt Brecht books

The Threepenny Opera - Library of Famous Editions - 1993

 

Who is Bertolt Brecht?

Bertolt Brecht, born Eugen Berthold Friedrich Brecht on February 10, 1898, in Augsburg, Germany, was a groundbreaking playwright, poet, and theorist. Growing up in a middle-class family, he showed an early interest in literature and the arts. After studying medicine and serving in World War I, he turned to literature, collaborating with Kurt Weill on The Threepenny Opera. Brecht's vision of theater as a medium for social and political commentary emerged in the 1920s, marked by the concept of "epic theater" and the "alienation effect."

Fleeing the Nazis in 1933, Brecht lived in exile, producing significant works in the U.S. Notable among these are The Good Person of Szechwan and Mother Courage and Her Children. After World War II, he returned to Germany, settling in East Berlin. There, he played a key role in the Berliner Ensemble, a theater company dedicated to performing his works.

Bertolt Brecht poems

Brecht's poems often reflect his Marxist and political beliefs, as well as his views on society and human nature. His best poems include: To Those Born Later (An die Nachgeborenen) This poem reflects Brecht's experiences during World War II and his disillusionment with the world. It explores the responsibility of the individual in the face of social injustice. German War Primer (Kriegsfibel) Brecht's German War Primer is a collection of poems and photographs that critiques the media's representation of war. Each poem is paired with a photograph, providing a powerful commentary on the nature of conflict. The Mask of Evil (Die Maske des Bösen) In this poem, Brecht explores the theme of evil and the complicity of those who remain silent in the face of injustice. It calls for people to unmask and resist the forces of evil. On the Critical Attitude (Über die kritische Einstellung) This poem reflects Brecht's belief in the importance of a critical and questioning attitude towards society. It encourages readers to question the status quo and not accept things blindly. The Solution (Die Lösung) The Solution is a provocative poem that challenges the conventional response to social problems. It suggests a shocking and extreme solution to address the root causes of societal issues. To Posterity (An die Nachgeborenen) Brecht addresses future generations in this poem, expressing his concern about the state of the world and the need for change. It reflects his hope that future generations will learn from the mistakes of the past.

These are just a few examples, and Brecht's body of work includes many more poems that cover a wide range of themes. Keep in mind that translations of his poems may vary, and the original German versions often carry nuances that may be challenging to capture fully in translation.


Brecht's legacy extends beyond his plays; his influence on modern theater and drama theory is profound. Emphasizing political and social critique, he inspired generations of playwrights and directors. Some of his notable works include The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Galileo, and The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Brecht passed away on August 14, 1956, but his ideas and contributions to the world of theater continue to be studied and performed globally.

 

The Threepenny Opera

The Threepenny Opera was Brecht's first and greatest commercial success, and it remains one of his best-loved and most-performed plays. Based on John Gay's eighteenth-century Beggar's Opera, the play is set in Victorian England's Soho but satirizes the bourgeois society of the Weimar Republic through its wry love story of Polly Peachum and "Mack the Knife" Macheath. With Kurt Weill's music, which was one of the earliest and most successful attempts to introduce jazz into the theater, it became a popular hit throughout the Western world.