The Caucasian Chalk Circle
The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht is a thought-provoking drama published by Bloomsbury Academic on April 22, 2021. This edition spans 152 pages and is presented in English. The play reinterprets an ancient Chinese story within a realistic Soviet Georgian setting, where two women engage in a dispute over a child’s custody. Through the character of Azdak, an unconventional judge, Brecht explores themes of justice and morality, ultimately allowing the peasant Grusha to retain the child she loves, despite not being its biological mother.
Readers will find that this edition includes introductory commentary and notes by Kristopher Imbrigotta from the University of Puget Sound, providing a contemporary lens on the play’s complex themes. The introduction delves into various aspects such as narrative structure, the role of music and songs, and the socio-political context of Brecht’s work during his exile in the United States amidst World War II. This edition serves as a valuable resource for those interested in drama, European theater, and the intricacies of playwriting, offering insights into Brecht’s unique approach to storytelling and social critique.
Official synopsis Publisher
Brecht projects an ancient Chinese story onto a realistic setting in Soviet Georgia. In a theme that echoes the Judgment of Solomon, two women argue over the possession of a child. Thanks to the unruly judge, Azdak (one of Brecht’s most vivid creations) natural justice is done and the peasant Grusha keeps the child she loves, even though she is not its mother.
Written while Brecht was in exile in the United States during the Second World War, The Caucasian Chalk Circle is a politically charged, much-revived and complex example of Brecht’s epic theatre.
This new Student Edition contains introductory commentary and notes by Kristopher Imbrigotta from the University of Puget Sound, US, offering a much-needed contemporary perspective on the play.
The introduction covers:
– narrative structure: play about a play within a play (“circle”)
– songs and music
– justice and social systems
– context: Brecht, exile, WWII, socialism
– notions of collective and class
– fable and story adaptation, folk fairy tale
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