THE CAUCASIAN CHALK THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLECIRCLE

THEMES OF THE PLAYTHEMES OF THE PLAY

OUTLINEOUTLINE

Justice and subjectivity of lawJustice and subjectivity of law Love and compassionLove and compassion Ownership and belongingOwnership and belonging Corruption in religionCorruption in religion

JUSTICEJUSTICE

GrushaGrusha The kitchen maid who rescues the The kitchen maid who rescues the

Governor’s son Micheal endangering Governor’s son Micheal endangering her own lifeher own life

Sense of inherent justiceSense of inherent justice “…“…He looks at me! He’s human!”(44, He looks at me! He’s human!”(44,

CCC)CCC)

SUBJECTIVITY OF LAWSUBJECTIVITY OF LAW

The law system of Brecht’s The law system of Brecht’s time:heartless & crueltime:heartless & cruel

AzdakAzdak Judge by chanceJudge by chance ArbitraryArbitrary Takes from rich and gives to the poorTakes from rich and gives to the poor Case of an Invalid and a doctorCase of an Invalid and a doctor ““I accept” = willing to be bribedI accept” = willing to be bribed

LOVE & COMPASSIONLOVE & COMPASSION

In a war-torn In a war-torn world is it world is it possible for possible for compassion compassion to exist ? to exist ? Brecht says Brecht says “yes” to this “yes” to this through the through the character character GrushaGrusha

MotherhooMotherhoodd

SacrificeSacrifice

Reason&InReason&Instinctstinct

MOTHERHOODMOTHERHOOD Grusha X Governor’s wifeGrusha X Governor’s wife

Governor’s wife:”…How’s Micheal?Asleep?”Governor’s wife:”…How’s Micheal?Asleep?”Woman with the child:”Yes Madam”Woman with the child:”Yes Madam”Governor’s wife:”Then put him down a moment Governor’s wife:”Then put him down a moment and get my little saffron-coloured boots from the and get my little saffron-coloured boots from the bedroom.I need them for the green dress.Just bedroom.I need them for the green dress.Just look how these things have been packed!No look how these things have been packed!No love!No understanding!If you don’t give them love!No understanding!If you don’t give them every order yourself…At such moments you every order yourself…At such moments you realize what kind of servants you have!They realize what kind of servants you have!They gorge themselves at your expense, and never a gorge themselves at your expense, and never a word of gratitude!I’ll remember this.”(41,CCC)word of gratitude!I’ll remember this.”(41,CCC)

MOTHERHOODMOTHERHOOD

Grusha says:”I won’t Grusha says:”I won’t give him up.I’ve give him up.I’ve raised him and he raised him and he knows me” knows me” (125,CCC)(125,CCC)

““I brought him up! I brought him up! Shall I also tear him Shall I also tear him to bits? I can’t”(127)to bits? I can’t”(127)

REASON & INSTINCT REASON & INSTINCT && SACRIFICESACRIFICE

Singer:”The child Singer:”The child called to her,Not called to her,Not whining but calling whining but calling quiet sensibly,Or so it quiet sensibly,Or so it seemed to seemed to her.”Woman,” it said , her.”Woman,” it said , “help me.”(45,CCC)“help me.”(45,CCC)

““Fearful is the Fearful is the seductive power of seductive power of goodness!”(46)goodness!”(46)

Like real mother of Like real mother of the childthe child

Life-altering Life-altering decisionsdecisions

sacrificed her own sacrificed her own life and future in life and future in order to save his order to save his life and futurelife and future

OWNERSHIP & BELONGINGOWNERSHIP & BELONGING Owning a land & Owning a childOwning a land & Owning a child

Who is the deserving owner?Who is the deserving owner?

Who does the land Who does the land rightly belong to?rightly belong to?

Those who have lived there for a length of time, or those who can make best use of it?

Who does the child Who does the child rightly belong to?rightly belong to?

The one who gave The one who gave birth to the child or birth to the child or the one who cared for the one who cared for him and brought him him and brought him up?up?

OWNERSHIP & OWNERSHIP & BELONGINGBELONGING

Old man,Old man,rightright: ”The valley has belonged to us from : ”The valley has belonged to us from all eternity”all eternity”

Soldier,Soldier,leftleft:”What does that mean- from all eternity?:”What does that mean- from all eternity?Nothing belongs to anyone from all eternity…”Nothing belongs to anyone from all eternity…”

Old man,Old man,rightright:”Doesn’t it make a :”Doesn’t it make a difference,though,what kind of trees stand next to difference,though,what kind of trees stand next to the house you are born in?Or what kind of neighbors the house you are born in?Or what kind of neighbors you have?Doesn’t that make a difference?We want you have?Doesn’t that make a difference?We want to go back just to have you as our neighbors,valley-to go back just to have you as our neighbors,valley-thieves!Now you can all laugh again.”(21,CCC)thieves!Now you can all laugh again.”(21,CCC)

OWNERSHIP & OWNERSHIP & BELONGINGBELONGING

The singer sums up the situation at the The singer sums up the situation at the end of the play:end of the play:

““But you,you have listened to the story of the Chalk But you,you have listened to the story of the Chalk Circle,Circle,

Take note what men of old concluded:Take note what men of old concluded:

That what there is shall go to those who are good for That what there is shall go to those who are good for it,it,

Children to the motherly, that they prosper,Children to the motherly, that they prosper,

Carts to good drivers, that they be driven well,Carts to good drivers, that they be driven well,

The valley to the waterers, that it yield fruit.(128,CCC)The valley to the waterers, that it yield fruit.(128,CCC)

CORRUPTION IN CORRUPTION IN RELIGIONRELIGION

Grusha’s brother’s wife AnikoGrusha’s brother’s wife Aniko Aniko as “religious”Aniko as “religious” Lavrenti:”Is there a father?I thought Lavrenti:”Is there a father?I thought

not.We must think up not.We must think up something.She’s religious”(63,CCC)something.She’s religious”(63,CCC)

Religion as an excuse for kicking Religion as an excuse for kicking Grusha out of the houseGrusha out of the house

Self-utility and interest Self-utility and interest

CORRUPTION IN CORRUPTION IN RELIGIONRELIGION Drunk monkDrunk monk

Lavrenti:”I’ll take care he doesn’t.But why only a Lavrenti:”I’ll take care he doesn’t.But why only a monk?Why not a priest?monk?Why not a priest?

Mother-in-law:”Oh,he is just as good.I only made Mother-in-law:”Oh,he is just as good.I only made one mistake:I paid half his fee in advance.Enough one mistake:I paid half his fee in advance.Enough to send him to tavern.I only hope…”to send him to tavern.I only hope…”

Lavrenti:”She saved on the priest,the wretch!Lavrenti:”She saved on the priest,the wretch!Hired a cheap monk”(69,CCC)Hired a cheap monk”(69,CCC)

He does this job for wasting his money by He does this job for wasting his money by drinking in taverndrinking in tavern

For his self-interestFor his self-interest