Covering the Caucasian Chalk Circle

The Caucasian Chalk Circle, a play by Bertold Brecht is based on an ancient Chinese play. The play deals with Grusha, a kitchen maid serving Governor Abashvilli and his wife Natella, who adopts the Governors baby Michael when he is abandoned during the mutiny. Grusha takes care of Michael as she would take care of her own son. Then two years later, Natella takes Grusha to court to get custody of Michael. The outcome is that Grusha gets to keep Michael and is proved to be his "true mother".

In this play, the playwright has shown the differences among the rich and the poor people. The tendency towards materialistic things in the rich people is shown by the character of Natella Abashvilli who, in her haste to take her personal belongings with her as she flees her husbands enemies, leaves her baby Michael behind. She does not bother about him at all until the end of the play where she tries to get him back, not for love but pure greed. The love for life and the readiness to help people among the lower class people is clearly shown by the character of Grusha. She takes little Michael with her, risking her life by that act of love. The conflicts in the human mind are shown when Grusha is unsure whether or not to take the baby with her. But her feeling of love overcomes her feeling of fear and she takes Michael with her knowing very well that she was risking her life.

During this play, we are exposed to a variety of different characters, some of which are caring, levelheaded and dutiful, while others are cunning, devious and vulgar. This contrast enhances the play as a whole and adds color to it. The play is very simply written but some of the lines convey deep meanings to the audience, especially those by the storytellers.

Thus the play "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" is an incredible play and even those people out there, those who think they can’t stand Brecht will love it!