'Questions From A Worker Who Reads' by Bertolt Brecht

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Who built Thebes of the seven gates?
In the books you will find the names of kings.
Did the kings haul up the lumps of rock?
And Babylon, many times demolished
Who raised it up so many times? In what houses
of gold-glittering Lima did the builders live?
Where, the evening that the Wall of China was finnished
Did the masons go? Great Rome
Is full of triumphal arches. Who erected them? Over whom
Did the Caesars triumph? Had Byzantium, much praised in song
Only palaces for its inhabitans? Even in fabled Atlantis
The night the ocean engulfed it
The drowning still bawled for their slaves.

The young Alexander conquered India.
Was he alone?
Caesar beat the Gauls.
Did he not have even a cook with him?

Philip of Spain wept when his armada
Went down. Was he the only one to weep?
Frederick the Second won the Seven Year's War. Who
Else won it?

Every page a victory.
Who cooked the feast for the victors?
Every ten years a great man?
Who paid the bill?

So many reports.
So many questions.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Questions From A Worker Who Reads: A Critical Analysis

Bertolt Brecht's poem, "Questions From A Worker Who Reads," is a powerful and evocative piece of literature that sheds light on the struggles and concerns of the working class. Written in 1935, during the height of the Great Depression, the poem reflects Brecht's Marxist ideals and his belief in the power of literature to inspire social change.

At its core, "Questions From A Worker Who Reads" is a series of rhetorical questions that challenge the reader to consider the injustices and inequalities of capitalist society. The poem is written from the perspective of a working-class individual who is frustrated with the status quo and seeks answers to the pressing issues of his time.

The poem begins with the speaker asking, "Who built Thebes of the seven gates?" This question serves as a metaphor for the labor of the working class, who are often overlooked and undervalued in society. The speaker goes on to question the motivations of those in power, asking, "In the books you will find the names of kings. / Did the kings haul up the lumps of rock?" Here, Brecht is highlighting the fact that the wealthy and powerful often take credit for the work of others and ignore the contributions of the working class.

As the poem progresses, the speaker raises a series of probing questions about the nature of society and the role of the working class within it. For example, he asks, "Who cooked the feast for the victors?" and "Who picked up the rubble of the Reichstag?" These questions force the reader to consider the ways in which the working class is exploited and undervalued, even in times of crisis and conflict.

Throughout the poem, Brecht employs a series of literary techniques to enhance its impact. For example, the use of rhetorical questions creates a sense of urgency and encourages the reader to think critically about the issues at hand. Additionally, the use of vivid imagery, such as the image of the "lumps of rock," helps to bring the poem to life and make it more relatable to readers.

Another key feature of "Questions From A Worker Who Reads" is its use of irony and satire. For example, the speaker notes that "The young Alexander conquered India. / Was he alone?" Here, Brecht is using irony to suggest that Alexander the Great may have been a skilled military leader, but he was also a product of his time and benefited from the labor of countless others.

Overall, "Questions From A Worker Who Reads" is a powerful and thought-provoking work of literature that challenges the reader to consider the role of the working class in society. Through its use of rhetorical questions, vivid imagery, and irony, the poem highlights the injustices and inequalities of capitalist society and calls for social change.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Questions From A Worker Who Reads: A Marxist Analysis

Bertolt Brecht’s poem, Questions From A Worker Who Reads, is a powerful piece of Marxist literature that explores the contradictions and injustices of capitalist society. Written in 1935, during the height of the Great Depression, the poem is a call to arms for workers to rise up against their oppressors and demand a better world.

At its core, the poem is a series of questions that a worker who reads asks of the world around him. These questions are not rhetorical, but rather they are meant to provoke thought and inspire action. The worker is not content to simply accept the world as it is, but instead he seeks to understand it and change it for the better.

The first question the worker asks is, “Who built Thebes of the seven gates?” This question is a reference to the ancient city of Thebes, which was said to have been built by the mythical hero Cadmus. The worker is asking who actually built Thebes, and by extension, who built the world we live in today. The answer, of course, is that it was built by workers, not by the ruling class. The worker is pointing out the fact that the ruling class takes credit for the work of the masses, while simultaneously exploiting and oppressing them.

The second question the worker asks is, “In the books you will find the names of kings. Did the kings haul up the lumps of rock?” This question is a continuation of the first, and it highlights the fact that the ruling class has always claimed credit for the work of others. The worker is pointing out the absurdity of the idea that kings and rulers are responsible for the great works of civilization, when in reality it is the workers who do the heavy lifting.

The third question the worker asks is, “And what about the pyramids?” This question is a reference to the ancient Egyptian pyramids, which were built by thousands of workers over a period of decades. The worker is pointing out the fact that the ruling class has always relied on the labor of the masses to build their monuments and empires.

The fourth question the worker asks is, “Who built the city of New York?” This question is a more contemporary example of the same phenomenon. The worker is pointing out that even in modern times, the ruling class takes credit for the work of the masses. The skyscrapers and infrastructure of New York City were built by workers, not by the wealthy elite who claim to own them.

The fifth question the worker asks is, “Who made the steel for the Empire State Building?” This question is a more specific example of the same phenomenon. The worker is pointing out that even the most iconic symbols of American capitalism were built by the labor of the masses. The steelworkers who toiled in dangerous conditions to produce the steel for the Empire State Building are the true heroes of that story, not the wealthy businessmen who profited from their labor.

The sixth question the worker asks is, “Who built the White House?” This question is a direct challenge to the idea of American exceptionalism. The worker is pointing out that even the most powerful nation in the world was built by the labor of the masses, not by the genius of its leaders or the superiority of its culture.

The seventh question the worker asks is, “Who pays for all of this?” This question is a reminder that the ruling class does not create wealth, but rather they extract it from the labor of the masses. The worker is pointing out that the wealthy elite are not the creators of wealth, but rather they are the beneficiaries of a system that exploits and oppresses the working class.

The eighth question the worker asks is, “Who owns the factories?” This question is a direct challenge to the idea of private property. The worker is pointing out that the factories and means of production are not owned by the workers who create the wealth, but rather they are owned by a small group of wealthy capitalists who profit from the labor of others.

The ninth question the worker asks is, “And the buses and trains?” This question is a reminder that even the most basic forms of transportation are controlled by the ruling class. The worker is pointing out that the working class is not even free to move about their own cities without the permission of their oppressors.

The tenth and final question the worker asks is, “Who eats the year’s harvest?” This question is a reminder that the ruling class does not create the food that sustains us, but rather they profit from the labor of the farmers and agricultural workers who produce it. The worker is pointing out that even the most basic necessities of life are subject to the whims of the wealthy elite.

In conclusion, Bertolt Brecht’s poem, Questions From A Worker Who Reads, is a powerful Marxist critique of capitalist society. The worker who reads is not content to simply accept the world as it is, but rather he seeks to understand it and change it for the better. The questions he asks are not rhetorical, but rather they are meant to provoke thought and inspire action. The worker is pointing out the contradictions and injustices of a system that claims to be based on merit and hard work, but in reality is built on the exploitation and oppression of the working class. The poem is a call to arms for workers to rise up against their oppressors and demand a better world.

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