Inequity: The Struggle to Be a Mother in a Capitalist Society It would be unfair to judge Mother Courage based on a cursory look at her actions; because, although he repeatedly chooses his business over his children, it is only to survive in the war-impoverished, capitalist society in which they live. Trapped in the dialectical relationship of being both a mother and a capitalist, Courage struggles to find a way to ensure the survival and well-being of her children. Rorrison makes an excellent point in his statement: "Brecht intended her to be an object lesson in misplaced energy"; obviously refers to his habit of preferring his own business to his family. By including situations where limited options become increasingly limited and the likelihood of a zero-sum game rages on, the show demonstrates that although her actions and behaviors might have been different, the outcome for Mother Courage and her family would have been the same ; he does so both to demonstrate that capitalism is antithetical to human relationships as it only benefits those in command, and to also call for government reform. From the beginning, it becomes clear that Mother Courage is faced with unfavorable choices; when a sergeant and a recruiting officer ask her the origin of her name, she explains: "They call me Mother Courage because I was afraid of ruining myself so I walked through the bombing of Riga like a madwoman, with fifty loaves of bread in my hand" my cart. They were moldy, what else could I do?” (1.25) This last sentence is extremely significant because it highlights Mother Courage's resilience in making capitalism work for her. Although she endangers her children by having them go with her, she knows that it will not be only her who... middle of paper ......her quote, Brecht offers an insightful observation: “For be good, but live ”. How strange and counterintuitive it must seem that those with the most lovable qualities perish, while those who are corrupted by greed are left to survive. Of course, individuals are not to blame, because they are simply a reflection of the society in which they live. Therefore, there needs to be a change not only in the way society as a whole works – in terms of capitalism – but also in the way it works. it serves the individuals who depend on it, so as not to create inequalities between the two. Once this is accomplished, the poor will no longer “need courage,” as Mother Courage states (6.77) Works Cited Brecht, Bertolt. Brecht on the theatre. Ed. and trans. John Willett. New York: Hill and Wang, 1964. Rorrison, Hugh. "Introduction" Mother Courage and her children. Trans. John Willett. New York: Methuen, 2010.