The stomach is the one that drives most human beings and not the heart

 

“It is the stomach that drives most human beings and not the heart. Comment on this statement basing it on The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht.

A .  Prince Kazbeki

He stages a coup against the Grand Duke and the Governor

-          Governor is executed

-          After gaining power he seeks the life of his heir Michael in order to consolidate his power

B.  Governor Abashwili

Driven by greed and materialism

-          Ignores the petition of his subjects against heavy taxation

-          Intends to destroy the slums in order to extend the East wing of the palace

C. Natella

- Displays greed for fame and recognition

She is more possessed with world possessions then her baby Michael

-          Ref pg 24 – orders one of the servants to put down for a moment and get her little saflow colored boots from the bedroom to match her green dress

-          Takes too long rummaging in a truck of expensive clothes - Pg 25

-          She is not  willing to travel on horseback since she prefers the carriage

-          She pursues Michael in order to reclaim her husband’s property due to be inherited by him

D. Azdak

Exhibits excessive greed

Asks for bribes before starting any suit – starts by saying I accept

He actually accepts bribes from

The blackmailer, Natella’s lawyers Simon & Grusha etc

E.  Ordinary citizens – take advantage of the war to satisfy their greed

e.g       - peasant sells a pitcher of milk exorbitantly

- Jussup’s mother – displays greed when she arranges for a marriage between Jussup & Grusha – she is paid 600 piaster for it by Lavrenti

F.  Soldiers

The merchants fear them since they can easily confiscate their merchandise for their own benefit

e.g the 3 merchandise at the rotten bridge hide their merchandise at the arrival of the corporal and the iron shirts

 - The peasant tells Grusha “If you want milk kill the soldiers.”   -       Pg 32

Mulili is a representation of many African leaders

 Using Imbuga’s Betrayal in the city for illustration, write an essay for or against the assertion that Mulili is a representation of many African leaders.

In Africa today, many leaders act irrationally in matters pertaining to social, political and religious situations. Mulili is callous and corrupt in most of his dealings.

M i – Inhuman nature of Mulili portrays him as a man devoid of any feelings

-          He makes fun of Doga and Nina’s sorrow due to the loss of their son and forbids then to carry out the shaving ceremony at the graveside. Pg. 9

-          He is insensitive to Doga’s feelings that Doga family tells him” may you die the way Adika did. ( pg 10)

-          He has Doga, Nina and Kabito killed in cold –blood.

-          He declares that there is no reason why boss should not be killed.

M II – Mulili is corrupt.

-          Being a boss cousin he is promised many acres of land and grade cattle.

-          When the tender for the supply of milk to the university is awarded to somebody else ( kabito) Mulili reports to Boss who revokes it and gives it to him.

-          Mulili goes on to have Kabito killed after lying to Boss that kabito had maligned his name.

-          He allows a fugitive Mustafa, to escape across the border.

MIII – Mulili id fanatical in a sycophantic way.

-          He does all he can to please authority. (Boss)

-          He is very proud of having undeservingly won the milk tender.

-          He does everything to impress Boss and make him think he is loyal.

-          He was a soldier and now a farmer but still insists on being part of the authority.

MIV - Mulili is a vengeful character

-          He bears a grudge against Kabito because he feels belittled by Kabito whom he alleges has called him a primary school kid.

-          Threatens Jere for failing to enforce the instructions they had to prevent Doga and Nina from carrying out their sons shaving ceremony.

True Motherhood is not necessarily biological

“True Motherhood is not necessarily biological”   illustrate this statement using Bertolt Brechts “The Causasion Chalk Circle” for your illustration.

        You need not be a biological mother to become motherly. Strangers can act more responsibly than real mothers. This is clearly illustrated by Grusha, a kitchen maid, in the play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle as shown below;

        Natella Abashwili, the biological mother of Michael abandons the child as she flees the city .She is more interested in her fine linen and shoes as well as horse carriages. Grusha though a kitchen maid she rescues the Governor’s son Michael during the civil war. She sits by the abandoned boy, the whole night and finally decides to take him into the Northern Mountains.

      Grusha adopts the boy and risks her own life for the sake of the boy’s safety She sacrifices her week’s wages to buy milk for the boy. She risks and crosses the rotten bridge with a boy. To protect the boy from the Iron Shirt who wanted to capture him, she hits the corporal on the head and flees away.  Grusha acts responsibly as compared to the child’s biological mother.

       The mockery of Grusha’s sister-in-law concerning the illegitimate child, Michael does not affect her affection for the young boy. Grusha Vashnadze also endures an arranged and difficult marriage on paper to a “dying man, Jussup: for the sake of the child.

      Natella Abashwili when she comes back for the Child after war, she is more on the wealth that the father left for the boy but not motherly love but Grusha is determine to protect the boys as much as possible. She is determined to keep Micahel no matter what happens. She resolves to adopt the boy and does not intend to go back on her word.

      Grusha faces Azdak, the Judge and dares him to pass a negative judgment against her after she notices that he’s received money from Natella’s lawyer. She directs confrontation with judge. Grusha fights for the custody of Michael in court and does not pull him to her side in the test of the chalk circle so as not to tear him up. She fears to destroy the boy she has nurtured and brought up expensively as a real mother.

Conclusion

Generally, mothers are supposed to be motherly for one to be accredited a real mother of a child .This world  mean not all the biological /mothers are a sincere parents as to claim the ownership, however the soul that would nurture brings up responsibly deserves the ownership as portrays in Grusha Vashnadze

(Comment to add more illustration of this discussion)