'How Fortunate The Man With None' by Bertolt Brecht
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From the play "Mother Courage"
You saw sagacious Solomon
You know what came of him,
To him complexities seemed plain.
He cursed the hour that gave birth to him
And saw that everything was vain.
How great and wise was Solomon.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's wisdom that had brought him to this state.
How fortunate the man with none.
You saw courageous Caesar next
You know what he became.
They deified him in his life
Then had him murdered just the same.
And as they raised the fatal knife
How loud he cried: you too my son!
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's courage that had brought him to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.
You heard of honest Socrates
The man who never lied:
They weren't so grateful as you'd think
Instead the rulers fixed to have him tried
And handed him the poisoned drink.
How honest was the people's noble son.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's honesty that brought him to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.
Here you can see respectable folk
Keeping to God's own laws.
So far he hasn't taken heed.
You who sit safe and warm indoors
Help to relieve our bitter need.
How virtuously we had begun.
The world however did not wait
But soon observed what followed on.
It's fear of god that brought us to that state.
How fortunate the man with none.
Editor 1 Interpretation
How Fortunate The Man With None: A Critical Interpretation
Bertolt Brecht's poem, "How Fortunate The Man With None" is a powerful critique of society, its values, and its hierarchies. Written in 1939, the poem is a commentary on the rise of fascism, the greed of capitalism, and the oppression of the working class. At its core, the poem is a call to arms, a call for revolution, and a plea for social justice. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the poem's themes, structure, and language, and offer a close reading of its most important lines.
The Themes of "How Fortunate The Man With None"
At its heart, "How Fortunate The Man With None" is a poem about power and privilege. Brecht is critical of the social, economic, and political hierarchies that dominate society, and he seeks to expose their injustices. Throughout the poem, Brecht employs a series of contrasts to illustrate his point. He contrasts the rich with the poor, the powerful with the powerless, and the haves with the have-nots. In doing so, he highlights the vast inequality that exists in the world and the suffering that it causes.
Another prominent theme in the poem is the idea of freedom. Brecht argues that true freedom can only be achieved through the rejection of material possessions and the embrace of a simpler, more communal way of life. He is critical of the capitalist mentality that values wealth, power, and status over human connection and social responsibility. To Brecht, the man with none is the most fortunate because he is free from the burdens of materialism, greed, and selfishness.
The poem also touches on the theme of alienation. Brecht laments the fact that modern society has become so individualistic and fragmented that people have lost touch with each other and with their own humanity. He argues that the man with none is fortunate because he is not burdened by the isolation and loneliness that come with modern life.
The Structure of "How Fortunate The Man With None"
"How Fortunate The Man With None" is a relatively short poem, consisting of six stanzas of four lines each. The poem is written in free verse, which allows Brecht to experiment with different rhythms and structures. The lack of a strict rhyme scheme or meter gives the poem a sense of fluidity and freedom, which reinforces its themes of liberation and simplicity.
Each stanza of the poem follows a similar structure, with the first two lines posing a question or making a statement, and the second two lines providing an answer or a contrasting image. This creates a sense of dialogue between the different parts of the poem and helps to emphasize the contrasts that are central to its message.
A Close Reading of "How Fortunate The Man With None"
Let's take a closer look at some of the key lines in the poem and explore their meaning and significance.
How fortunate the man with none
This line sets the tone for the entire poem. By framing the man with none as fortunate, Brecht immediately challenges the conventional wisdom that wealth and power are the keys to happiness. He suggests that true fortune lies in a lack of material possessions and social status.
The mask of the liar falls with the first tear
Brecht is critical of the dishonesty and hypocrisy that he sees in society. He suggests that people are hiding behind masks, pretending to be something they are not. However, he also suggests that these masks are fragile, and can be easily destroyed by a single tear. This suggests that the truth is always present, even if it is hidden behind a facade.
The turning point in the process of growing up Is when you discover the core of strength within you That survives all hurt.
Brecht's poem is not just a critique of society; it is also a call to action. Here, he suggests that the key to liberation is to find the strength within oneself, to overcome the pain and suffering that are a part of life. This is a powerful message of hope and resilience that is essential to the poem's overall message.
The ravening greed of the old career The desperate lies of the bourgeoisie Can only be toppled by Bringing the people to the fore.
Brecht is clear in his critique of capitalism and the ruling class. He suggests that these forces can only be defeated by a united effort of the people. The poem is a call to revolution, a plea for the working class to rise up and take control of their own destiny.
Conclusion
In "How Fortunate The Man With None," Bertolt Brecht offers a powerful critique of society and its values. Through a series of contrasts and images, he highlights the vast inequalities that exist in the world and the suffering that they cause. He argues that true freedom can only be achieved through a rejection of material possessions and a return to a simpler, more communal way of life. He is critical of the capitalist mentality that values wealth, power, and status over human connection and social responsibility. Ultimately, the poem is a call to action, a plea for the working class to rise up and take control of their own destiny.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
How Fortunate The Man With None: A Poem of Social Justice
Bertolt Brecht, a German poet, playwright, and theatre director, wrote the poem How Fortunate The Man With None in 1939. The poem is a powerful commentary on social inequality and the human condition. Brecht’s poem is a call to action, urging readers to question the status quo and fight for a more just society. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
Themes
The central theme of How Fortunate The Man With None is social justice. Brecht uses the poem to critique the unequal distribution of wealth and power in society. He argues that those who have nothing are actually the most fortunate because they are not burdened by the greed and corruption that come with wealth and power. The poem is a reminder that material possessions do not bring happiness or fulfillment. Instead, true happiness comes from living a life of purpose and meaning.
Brecht also explores the theme of human nature in the poem. He suggests that humans are inherently flawed and that our desire for power and wealth often leads to corruption and injustice. However, he also suggests that humans have the capacity for compassion and empathy. The poem is a call to action, urging readers to tap into their better nature and fight for a more just society.
Structure
How Fortunate The Man With None is a free verse poem with no set rhyme scheme or meter. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each with a different number of lines. The first stanza has six lines, the second has eight, the third has four, the fourth has nine, the fifth has six, and the final stanza has seven lines. The irregular structure of the poem reflects the chaotic and unpredictable nature of society.
Literary Devices
Brecht uses a variety of literary devices in How Fortunate The Man With None to convey his message. One of the most prominent devices is repetition. The phrase “How fortunate the man with none” is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the central theme of social justice. Brecht also uses imagery to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. For example, in the second stanza, he writes, “He has time to watch the slow emergence / Of dawn from night’s reluctant grasp.” This image of the slow emergence of dawn emphasizes the idea that those who have nothing have more time to appreciate the simple pleasures of life.
Brecht also uses irony in the poem to highlight the absurdity of social inequality. For example, in the fourth stanza, he writes, “He who has nothing can possess the world.” This ironic statement suggests that those who have nothing actually have more freedom and power than those who are burdened by wealth and possessions.
Analysis
The first stanza of How Fortunate The Man With None sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Brecht writes, “You saw sagacious Solomon / You know what came of him, / To him complexities seemed plain. / He cursed the hour that gave birth to him / And saw that everything was vain. / How great and wise was Solomon.” This stanza introduces the idea that wealth and power do not bring happiness or fulfillment. Solomon, one of the wealthiest and most powerful kings in history, cursed the hour of his birth because he realized that everything was ultimately meaningless.
The second stanza of the poem explores the idea that those who have nothing are actually the most fortunate. Brecht writes, “You saw the drops on the wet stone, / Know that they are tears. / Know that they did not come from the eyes of the fortunate.” This stanza emphasizes the idea that those who have nothing are not burdened by the greed and corruption that come with wealth and power. They are free to appreciate the simple pleasures of life, such as the drops on a wet stone.
The third stanza of the poem is the shortest, with only four lines. Brecht writes, “Fortunate the man with none.” This simple statement reinforces the central theme of the poem.
The fourth stanza of the poem is the longest and most complex. Brecht writes, “You saw the prisoner in his dungeon / The doors are open, and the chains are broken / He has nowhere to go / You saw the sick man in his bed / He has no one to come to him / The doctor comes to him too late / You all know how this ends / Fortunate the man with none.” This stanza explores the idea that those who have nothing are actually the most free. The prisoner in his dungeon may have had his chains broken, but he still has nowhere to go. The sick man may have a doctor, but it is too late to save him. Those who have nothing are free from the burdens and responsibilities that come with wealth and power.
The fifth stanza of the poem is a reminder that material possessions do not bring happiness or fulfillment. Brecht writes, “You saw the moon tonight / You know that it is not made of cheese / You know that it is not a ball / You know that it is a stone / You know that it is dead / Fortunate the man with none.” This stanza emphasizes the idea that true happiness comes from living a life of purpose and meaning, not from material possessions.
The final stanza of the poem is a call to action. Brecht writes, “You saw the man who hung himself / You know that he is dead / It was a strange and bitter end / Fortunate the man with none.” This stanza is a reminder that social inequality can have deadly consequences. The man who hung himself may have been driven to despair by the injustices of society. The poem is a call to action, urging readers to fight for a more just society.
Conclusion
How Fortunate The Man With None is a powerful poem that explores the themes of social justice and human nature. Brecht uses a variety of literary devices to convey his message, including repetition, imagery, irony, and symbolism. The poem is a call to action, urging readers to question the status quo and fight for a more just society. Brecht’s poem is a reminder that material possessions do not bring happiness or fulfillment. Instead, true happiness comes from living a life of purpose and meaning.
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