'To Those Born After' by Bertolt Brecht
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I
To the cities I came in a time of disorder
That was ruled by hunger.
I sheltered with the people in a time of uproar
And then I joined in their rebellion.
That's how I passed my time that was given to me on this Earth.
I ate my dinners between the battles,
I lay down to sleep among the murderers,
I didn't care for much for love
And for nature's beauties I had little patience.
That's how I passed my time that was given to me on this Earth.
The city streets all led to foul swamps in my time,
My speech betrayed me to the butchers.
I could do only little
But without me those that ruled could not sleep so easily:
That's what I hoped.
That's how I passed my time that was given to me on this Earth.
Our forces were slight and small,
Our goal lay in the far distance
Clearly in our sights,
If for me myself beyond my reaching.
That's how I passed my time that was given to me on this Earth.
II
You who will come to the surface
From the flood that's overwhelmed us and drowned us all
Must think, when you speak of our weakness in times of darkness
That you've not had to face:
Days when we were used to changing countries
More often than shoes,
Through the war of the classes despairing
That there was only injustice and no outrage.
Even so we realised
Hatred of oppression still distorts the features,
Anger at injustice still makes voices raised and ugly.
Oh we, who wished to lay for the foundations for peace and friendliness,
Could never be friendly ourselves.
And in the future when no longer
Do human beings still treat themselves as animals,
Look back on us with indulgence.
Editor 1 Interpretation
To Those Born After by Bertolt Brecht: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
"To Those Born After" is a poem by Bertolt Brecht, first published in German in 1939. The poem is a reflection on the catastrophic events of the early 20th century, particularly the rise of fascism and the devastation of World War II. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of this classic poem.
Background of the Poem
Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and director who lived through some of the most turbulent times of the 20th century. He was born in 1898 in Augsburg, Germany, and died in 1956 in Berlin. Brecht was a committed socialist and a fierce critic of capitalism and fascism. He believed that literature and art should serve a political purpose and that they should be accessible to the working class.
"To Those Born After" was written in 1939, at a time when the world was on the brink of war. Brecht had fled Germany and was living in exile in Denmark. The poem is a response to the horrors of the war and a warning to future generations. Brecht was concerned that the lessons of the war would be forgotten and that humanity would repeat the same mistakes.
Literary Criticism
The poem is written in free verse, with no rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a sense of urgency and spontaneity. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each containing four lines. The language is simple and direct, with no ornate or flowery language.
The poem begins with a direct address to the reader: "Truly, I live in dark times." This sets the tone for the poem and establishes the speaker's point of view. The speaker is someone who has lived through terrible times and is warning the reader about the dangers that lie ahead.
The first stanza sets up the contrast between the present and the future. The speaker acknowledges that things are bad now, but suggests that they will get worse. The future is portrayed as a time of great danger and uncertainty.
The second stanza describes the atrocities of war: "Murder is common." The speaker suggests that war has become so normalized that people no longer notice or care about the suffering it causes. The language is stark and brutal, underscoring the horror of war.
The third stanza shifts focus to the future. The speaker suggests that the coming generations will not understand the horrors of war. They will have grown up in a world where war is commonplace and will not be able to comprehend the suffering it causes. The language is bleak and pessimistic, suggesting that the future is hopeless.
In the fourth stanza, the speaker offers a warning to the future generations. They must be vigilant and not allow themselves to be seduced by false promises. They must not be swayed by nationalism or the rhetoric of war. The language is urgent and passionate, suggesting that the speaker feels a great sense of responsibility to warn future generations.
The fifth stanza offers a glimmer of hope. The speaker suggests that the future generations will find ways to resist and fight back against oppression. They will find new ways to organize and mobilize, and they will not be bound by the old ways of thinking. The language is more optimistic, suggesting that the speaker believes that change is possible.
The final stanza is a call to action. The speaker urges the reader to act now, before it is too late. They must not wait for someone else to take action, but must act on their own. The language is forceful and passionate, suggesting that the speaker is deeply committed to the cause of social justice.
Interpretation
"To Those Born After" is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition. It is a warning to future generations about the dangers of war and oppression. Brecht was deeply committed to social justice and believed that literature and art could play a role in bringing about change.
The poem is a reflection on the catastrophic events of the early 20th century, particularly the rise of fascism and the devastation of World War II. Brecht was concerned that the lessons of the war would be forgotten and that humanity would repeat the same mistakes. The poem is an attempt to prevent this from happening.
The poem is also a call to action. Brecht urges the reader to act now, before it is too late. They must not wait for someone else to take action, but must act on their own. This is a powerful message that speaks to the importance of individual responsibility.
The language of the poem is simple and direct, with no ornate or flowery language. This gives the poem a sense of urgency and spontaneity. The lack of meter and rhyme also adds to the urgency of the poem. This is a poem that demands to be heard.
In conclusion, "To Those Born After" is a powerful poem that speaks to the human condition. It is a warning to future generations about the dangers of war and oppression, and a call to action to prevent these things from happening. Brecht's message is as relevant today as it was when the poem was first written. We must not forget the lessons of the past, and we must act now to prevent history from repeating itself.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To Those Born After: A Poem for the Ages
Bertolt Brecht, a German poet and playwright, wrote a poem that has stood the test of time. "To Those Born After" is a powerful piece that speaks to the future generations about the atrocities of the past. Brecht's poem is a call to action, urging those who come after to learn from the mistakes of their predecessors and strive for a better world.
The poem begins with a stark warning: "Truly, I live in dark times!" Brecht is acknowledging the darkness that surrounds him, the darkness of war, poverty, and oppression. He is speaking to those who will come after him, warning them that they too may live in dark times. But he is also urging them to take action, to not let the darkness consume them.
Brecht then goes on to describe the world he sees around him. He speaks of "senseless wars" and "endless oppression," of people being "tortured, slaughtered, and silenced." He is painting a picture of a world that is in chaos, a world that is in desperate need of change.
But Brecht doesn't stop there. He goes on to say that the darkness is not just external, but internal as well. He speaks of the "darkness inside men" and the "darkness inside women." He is acknowledging that the darkness is not just in the world around us, but it is also within us. We all have the capacity for darkness, and it is up to us to fight against it.
Brecht then turns his attention to the future generations, saying "Oh, we, who wished to prepare the ground for friendship, could not ourselves be friendly." He is acknowledging that his generation has failed in its mission to create a better world. They may have had good intentions, but they were unable to follow through. He is speaking to the future generations, urging them to do better, to be the ones who finally create a world of peace and friendship.
The poem then takes a turn, with Brecht asking the future generations to "take note of what I wished I could have said." He is acknowledging that there are things he wishes he could have told them, things that he knows are important. He is urging them to listen, to learn from the mistakes of the past, and to use that knowledge to create a better future.
Brecht then goes on to list the things he wishes he could have said. He speaks of the importance of love, of the need to "love life more than the meaning of it." He is urging the future generations to not get bogged down in the meaning of life, but to simply enjoy it and love it for what it is.
He also speaks of the importance of freedom, saying "I would have warned you against giving yourselves up to dreams of freedom." He is acknowledging that freedom is important, but it is not something that can be achieved through dreams alone. It takes hard work and sacrifice to achieve true freedom.
Brecht then speaks of the importance of justice, saying "I would have cautioned you against thinking of the righteous as necessarily good." He is acknowledging that just because someone is righteous, it does not mean they are good. Justice must be tempered with compassion and understanding.
The poem ends with Brecht urging the future generations to "learn to see." He is speaking of the importance of seeing the world for what it truly is, of not being blinded by ideology or propaganda. He is urging them to be critical thinkers, to question everything, and to never stop learning.
"To Those Born After" is a powerful poem that speaks to the heart of what it means to be human. Brecht is acknowledging the darkness that surrounds us, but he is also urging us to fight against it. He is speaking to the future generations, urging them to learn from the mistakes of the past and to create a better world. His words are just as relevant today as they were when he wrote them, and they will continue to be relevant for generations to come.
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