Caucasian Chalk Circle- Epic Theatre
Bertolt Brecht was known as a brilliant and shameless writer, who in his earlier plays of experimentation of expression, developed a unique style of play write. His well known play The Caucasian Chalk Circle depicts this, a parable inspired by the Chinese play “Chalk Circle” written at the close of World War Two. The story is set in the mountains of Georgia, and retells the story of a child dammed by and fought over by two mothers and King Solomon. This story is metaphorically drawn around Brecht’s communist and Marxist views on society, especially focusing on the bourgeoisie class. Through the use of various gestus techniques, Brecht represents the differences between Dramatic and Epic theatre, particularly within the first two scenes of the play, creating an intellectual response, instead of an emotion one.Epic Theatre was experimental- it employed various unconventional devices. It was aimed to allow the spectator of audience to stand outside and study the play, as it was often dialectical. This contrasts against Dramatic Theatre, known otherwise as “Aristotelian Theatre” in which the spectator is in the thick of the play, and shares the experience. Brecht wanted to change the audiences’ ideals and views on soci
When viewing dramatic theatre the audience is being “taken for granted” as characters are constructed to hold similar values and attitudes as the viewers therefore allowing them to be lured into emotionally identifying with the characters, following Stanislavski method style of acting. Epic theatre however detaches itself from this theory, instead manipulating the situation so that the “human being is the object, the inquiry.” Through separating the audience from the characters, the audience can form a distinction between their emotions and intellect- therefore approaching the text presented scientifically, questioning the events occurring. An example of this is in Scene two, where Grusha is commended by the audience for saving the baby Michael’s life. It is here that Brecht points out the fact that Grusha is not charitable instead a “thief” for stealing the baby, as it is quoted- “As if it was stolen goods she picked it up. As if she was a thief she crept away.” Here Grusha’s image is intentionally destroyed, as Brecht does not want the audience to sympathize with her. They must decide individually their views of her- a hero or thief? The distinct oppositions between epic theatre and Dramatic theatre conform to the first two scenes o
Some topics in this essay:
Chalk Circle,
World War,
Freedom Equality,
Brecht Grusha,
Dramatic Theatre,
King Solomon,
Epic Theatre,
Bertolt Brecht,
Dramatic Epic,
Scene Grusha,
chalk circle,
epic theatre,
caucasian chalk,
caucasian chalk circle,
dramatic theatre,
views society,
various gestus techniques,
gestus techniques,
play caucasian,
scenes play,
world war,
own opinions,
play caucasian chalk,
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Approximate Word count = 851
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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