The Caucasian Chalk Circle

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The prologue is the most debated part of the play. It portrays the dispute between two local communities on a piece of land. Their dispute is in fact not a real one because the outcome of the dispute is already there and there is no real opposition. The rationality decides and the dispute is solved to the satisfaction of both parties. The prologue indeed is the introduction to the actual play of the chalk circle trial of women fighting for a child.

The Western critics typically perceived the prologue als ludicrous propaganda for the communism. That's why the earlier performances in the West started right with the actual play. Ironically, the prologue was not particularly favorated in the East, either. Not only the link between the prologue and the actual story was considered as unconvincing. The way the dispute is settled in the play was also accused as utopian and unrealistic. 

The main topic of the play is justice through a legendary chalk circle trial. Similar stories to the chalk-circle trial can be found in the Bible or in the Chinese Yuan play by Li Xindao. The winners in those trials were, however, biological mothers. Brecht's chalk-circle trial is more interested in the motherhood based on humanity and social relationships than the motherhood determined by blood. Azdak’s judgement does not make sense from a merely legal point of view. From a humanistic perspective, however, it is the only reasonable solution. The justice-finding of the play is, therefore, a social one. It is based on Brecht's utopian (communist) view of humanity.

Azdak’s jurisdiction in general is clearly biased by the class priciple. The people belonging to the higher classes such as the Gouvernor, his wife, the Grand Duke, the Duke and landlords are predetermined losers in terms of their claims on rights. Azdak’s sympathy with the poor people also results from his antipathy to those rich people of higher classes. Although the play shows Brecht's ingenious literary technique by means of which Azdak is depicted in the best light, one can't ignore that Brecht's justice-finding is determined by his biased "Parteilichkeit," and the rights to all peole are, therefore, violated in the class interest.

Another aspect of the play is Brecht's criticism of the omni-present power of money. The higher a person's moral quality is, the less weekly wage the person has. Grusche earns only 2 Piasters in a week, which is the price for a little milk. The lawers only work for their honorariums. The ironshirts are all there just for money. The mother of the peasant whom Grusche is pretending to marry ask for 400 Piasters for that. The higher one rises in the hierarchy, the more incredible becomes the salary. Millions set aside for the army go straight into the pockets of the corrupt dukes.

The protest against the war is another major topic of the play. The dramatic situation in the prologue is the destruction after the World War II. Grusche's fiancée Simon must go into the war and she almost loses him. Several songs such as Azdak's Anti-War Song are related to this topic. When Azdak ridicules in the person of the Grand Duke the peace pledges of the fat Duke he comments: "Dukes fought, fought for war delivery contracts."

In general, this play is one of the most successful yet most debated plays of our time.

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