Bertolt BRECHT

If it is in “purple”

then it is a quote…

GREEDEnvy and desire

Perpetual pursuit of POWER

Relinquishing ETHICS and MORALS in

pursuit of that power

LET’S

SEE IF

WE CAN

FIT

BRECHT

IN HERE!

Brecht used this theatre as a means to highlight and fight against those uses of power that privileged the greedy and those who sought power for

the sake of power.

“the rich of this earth find no difficulty in creating

misery”

“Because things are the

way they are,

things will not stay the

way they are.”

The tool that he used for this was what he termed

THEATRE

EPIC THEATRE“The theatre-goer in conventional dramatic theatre says:

Yes, I've felt that way, too. That's the way I am. That's life.

That's the way it will always be. The suffering of this or that

person grips me because there is no escape for him. That's

great art: Everything is self-evident. I am made to cry with

those who cry, and laugh with those who laugh.

But the theatre-goer in the epic theatre says: I would never

have thought that. You can't do that. That's very strange,

practically unbelievable. That has to stop. The suffering of this

or that person grips me because there is an escape for him.

That's great art: nothing is self-evident. I am made to laugh

about those who cry, and cry about those who laugh.”

EPIC THEATREDRAMATIC THEATRE

• Entertainment

• Communicates experiences

• Focus is on the characters

• Plot conclusion is paramount

EPIC THEATRE

• Exploration

• Communicates knowledge

• Focus is on the society being portrayed

• The process, not the end, matters most

“The epic theatre is chiefly interested in

the attitudes which people adopt towards one

another, wherever they are socio-historically significant. It works out scenes where people

adopt attitudes of such a sort that the social laws under which they are acting spring

into sight. The concern of the epic theatre is thus eminently practical."

“Nowadays, anyone who

wishes to combat lies and ignorance and to write the truth must overcome at least five difficulties. He must

have the courage to write the truth when truth is everywhere opposed; the

keenness to recognize it, although it is

everywhere concealed; the skill to manipulate it as a weapon; the

judgment to select those in whose hands it will be effective; and the

running to spread the truth among such persons.”

Use of violence to hold on to power.

The Church derives its power from the belief that the earth “is the centre of the universe, and [they] are at centre and the eye of the Creator falls upon [them] alone”. (p54)

They view Galileo’s findings as the product of a “diabolical tube” and denounce them as “foolish, absurd, heretical and contrary to [their] faith”. (p60)

Use of violence to hold on to power.

They “disapprove of such doctrines as run counter to the scriptures” (p57) and, accordingly, view Galileo as “an enemy of the human race”, and resolve to “treat him as such”. (p53)

It is with ominous undertones that the old cardinal notes that Galileo bears “a remarkable likeness to…that man we burned” – a fellow Copernican advocate, Giordano Bruno. (p53)

Use of violence to hold on to power.

The perpetual pursuit of power! The Church attempts to hold onto its power by any means. They are

willing to employ extreme violence to silence anyone who has the

potential to diminish their power or influence.

Use of violence to hold on to power.

Galileo challenges “the Ptolmaic system proclaimed by the Church and confirmed by the writings the Church is based on.” (p28)

This realisation leaves Sagredo “trembling with fear” when he realises what this means. (p28)

Segredo recognises that the Church will fight with violence to keep hold of its power, and he sees Galileo “stand[ing] on blazing faggots”, and when Galileo “said [he] believed in proof [Segredo] smelt burnt flesh”. (p33)

Use of violence to hold on to power.

Ultimately those in control in the church “do have the power” to achieve their will (p95). Ethics and morality, on both sides,

crumble before the onslaught of this greed and desire to maintain

power.

Greed motivates many others.

Galileo suggest that the “protection of freedom of thought” in Venice is “pretty good business”. He refuses to side the with businessmen, who he sees as trying to use him to further their own economic interests, with little regard for science or the good of humanity.

Introduce a key idea

The desire for power becomes an irresistible call for many individuals and institutions. This greed plunges them into immoral and unethical conduct in order to satisfy their perpetual pursuit of power.

Ultimately, this desire for power corrupts those who seek it, and causes conflict with those who pose any threat to the continued power of the dominant class.

Bring in Becht

The German poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht was acutely aware of the conflicts caused by the pursuit of power. Throughout his many writings, he sought to question and challenge these power structures and expose “the social laws under which they are acting”. The tool that he used for this was epic theatre, which aimed to break down traditional dramatic theatrical conventions and strip theatre of its cathartic value and emotion. Instead, he sought to stimulate his audience to question the unjust social structures that permeate their world. Brecht employs this approach in many of his works to savagely critique the power structures evident in society and the “misery” created by the greed of the “rich of this earth”. Turning light to the “social laws” that control people, Brecht uses epic theatre as a tool to use against those who perpetually pursued power, to “combat lies and ignorance” and “write the truth”.

Illustrate with LoG

A particularly savage critique of the corrupting nature of greed is evident in his play Life of Galileo. The Catholic Church is vicious in its attempts to defend and preserve its social influence, which is derived from the belief that the earth “is the centre of the universe, and [they] are at centre and the eye of the Creator falls upon [them] alone”. They view Galileo’s findings as “foolish, absurd, heretical and contrary to [their] faith” and according view Galileo himself as “an enemy of the human race”, and resolve to “treat him as such”, simply because his views cast doubt upon the ideas upon which their power is derived. It is with ominous undertones that the Old Cardinal notes that Galileo bears “a remarkable likeness to…that man we burned” – a fellow Copernican advocate, Giordano Bruno, who was “burned at the stake” as a “heretic”– and when Galileo is brought before the “instruments” of the Inquisition’s torture, the dark depths of the Churches moral compromise is laid brutally bare.

Final Conclusion

The greedy character of those in control often sees them attempt to relentlessly retain their influence, as it becomes clear that their moral code and ethics are skewed in order to aid them in their perpetual pursuit of power.