Bertolt Brecht THE THREEPENNY OPERA
1. How does Brecht explore the corruption of society and the brutality of humanity? How does he tie these to capitalism? To what ends?
2. Describe the thin (or even non-existent) line between the lawful and the unlawful in the play, and the possible reason(s) for why this is so.
3. How does Brecht dramatize the struggle between the demands of self-interest and the duties of love? To what ends?
4. How does Brecht explore (and satirize) such themes as morality, immorality, and amorality? Likewise, in what ways are moral righteousness, moral arbitrariness, and moral ambiguity prominent in the play? To what ends?
5. As a Marxist, Brecht was highly critical not only of the modern world but of the middle-classes and of the capitalist system more widely. How are the flaws and crookedness of capitalist society explored in the play? To what ends?
6. As a dramatist, Brecht was heavily intrigued by the dramatic (and political) possibilities of exploiting irony on the stage. Discuss.
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