Major Lexical Differences
Below, find comparisons of key script moments and structural features in the Bentley, Willett, and Hofmann translations of Mother Courage and Her Children.
Character Names
Note: characters not listed (i.e. Mother Courage) are listed as the same across all three translations.
BENTLEY
WILLETT
HOFMANN
Kattrin, her dumb daughter
Recruiting Officer
Swedish Commander
Ordinance Officer
Man with the Bandage
Old Colonel
Peasant
Peasant Woman
Another Peasant
Another Peasant Woman
Lieutenant
Kattrin, her dumb daughter
The Recruiter
The General
The Armourer
Man with the Patch
The Ancient Colonel
A Peasant
Peasant’s Wife
Another Peasant
His Wife
The Ensign
Soldiers
Kattrin, her mute daughter
The Recruiting Officer
The General
The Armourer
Man with the Eyepatch
The Colonel
The Farmer
The Farmer's Wife
Another Farmer
His Wife
The Ensign
Soldiers
Note: discrepancies in military positions, Kattrin, peasants vs. farmers
Structure
BENTLEY
WILLETT
HOFMANN
- Top of each scene features a context summary.
- Scenes have the same starting and ending points.
- Top of each scene features a context summary.
- Scenes have the same starting and ending points.
- More stage directions present.
- Top of each scene features a context summary.
- Begins with a prologue.
-Characters can be doubled and are listed as such from the original production.
Dialogue
Characterization of Kattrin - Scene 3
BENTLEY
WILLETT
CHAPLAIN: And who is this captivating young person?
MOTHER COURAGE: She’s not a captivating young person, she’s a respectable young person.
(p. 47)
CHAPLAIN: And who is this entrancing young person?
MOTHER COURAGE: That ain’t an entrancing but a decent young person.
(p. 22)
HOFMANN
CHAPLAIN: And who is this delightful personage?
MOTHER COURAGE: That's not a delightful, but a respectable personage.
(p. 28)
Note: Chaplain's flirty vs. patronizing comments, religious references
MOTHER COURAGE: What on earth are you up to—with a whore’s hat! Take it off this minute! Are you mad? With the enemy coming? Do you want them to find you and make a whore out of you? And she has the boots on, too, straight from Babylon. I’ll soon fix that. Oh, God, Chaplain, help me with these boots…
(p. 50)
MOTHER COURAGE: What are you doing with that strumpet’s hat? Take that lid off, you gone crazy? And the enemy is arriving any minute! Want ‘em to pick you up and make a prostitute of you? And she’s gone and put those boots on, whore of Babylon! Off with those boots! Jesus Christ, chaplain, gimme a hand, get those boots off her…
(p. 25)
MOTHER COURAGE: What are you playing at with that whore's hat? Will you take it off this instant? You must be out of your mind! Now, with the enemy coming? What if they find you and make you a whore? And she's gone and put the shoes on and all, the Jezebel! Get those shoes off! Jesus, Chaplain, help me get these shoes off of her…
(p. 31)
Cook's Historical Monologue - Scene 3
BENTLEY
COOK: Just what I think. Your health! Your brandy is first-rate, I'm never mistaken in a face. And the war is a war of religion. "A mighty fortress is our God..." (He sings a verse or so of Luther's hymn.) And talking of King Gustavus, this freedom he tried to bring to Germany cost him a pretty penny. Back in Sweden he had to levy a salt tax, the poorer folks didn't like it a bit. Then, too, he had to lock up the Germans and even cut their heads off, they clung so to slavery and their Kaiser. Of course, if no one had wanted to be free, the King would have got quite mad. First it was just Poland he tried to protect from bad men, especially the Kaiser, then his appetite grew with eating, and he ended up protecting Germany too. Now Germany put up a pretty decent fight. So the good King had nothing but worries in return for his outlay and his goodness, and of course he had to get his money back with taxes, which made bad blood, but he didn't shrink even from that. For he had one thing in his favor anyway, God's Holy Word, which was all to the good, because otherwise they could have said he did it for profit. That's how he kept his conscience clear. He always put conscience first.
(p. 46)
WILLETT
COOK: Just what I say, your brandy's first rate, I weren't mistaken in your face, but talk of the king, it cost the king dear trying to give freedom to Germany, what with giving Sweden the salt tax, what cost the poor folk a bit, so I've heard, on top of which he had to have the Germans locked up and drawn and quartered 'cause they wanted to carry on slaving for the emperor. Course the king took a serious view when anybody didn't want to be free. He set out by just trying to project Poland against bad people, particularly the emperor, then it started to become a habit till he ended up protecting the whole of Germany. They didn't half kick. So the poor old king's had nowt but trouble for all his kindness and expenses, and that's something he had to make up for by taxes of course, which caused bad blood, not that he's let a little matter like that depress him. One thing he had on his side, God's word, that was a help. Because otherwise folk would of been saying he done it all for himself and to make a bit on the side. So he's always had a good conscience, which was the main point.
(p. 23)
Note: Cook's flirtations and lack thereof, Emperor vs. Kaiser, historical differences
Chaplain's War & Peace Monologue - Scene 6
BENTLEY
WILLETT
CHAPLAIN: Well, I'd say there's peace even in war, war has its islands of peace. For war satisfies all needs, even those of peace, yes, they're provided for, or the war couldn't keep going. In war—as in the very thick of peace—you can take a crap, and between one battle and the next there's always a beer, and even on the march you can snatch a nap—on your elbow maybe, in a gutter—something can always be managed. Of course you can't play cards during an attack, but neither can you while ploughing the fields in peace time: it's when the victory's won that there are possibilities. You have your leg shot off, and at first you raise quite an outcry as if it was something, but soon you calm down or take a swig of brandy, and you end up hopping about, and the war is none the worse for your little misadventure. And can't you be fruitful and multiply in the thick of slaughter—behind a barn or somewhere? Nothing can keep you from it very long in any event. And so the war has your offspring and can carry on. War is like love, it always finds a way. Why should it end?
(p. 76)
CHAPLAIN: I'd say there's peace in war too; it has its peaceful moments. Because war satisfies all requirements, peaceable ones included, they're catered for, and it would simply fizzle out if they weren't. In war you can do a crap like in the depths of peacetime, then between one battle and the next you can have a beer, then even when you're moving up you can lay your head on your arms and have a bit of shuteye in the ditch, it's entirely possible. During a charge you can't play cards maybe, but nor can you in the depths of peacetime when you're ploughing, and after a victory there are various openings. You may get a leg blown off, then you start by making a lot of fuss as though it were serious, but afterwards you calm down or get given a schnapps, and you end up hopping around and the war's no worse off than before. And what's to stop you being fruitful and multiplying in the middle of all the butchery, behind a barn or something, in the long run you can't be held back from it, and then the war will have your progeny and can use them to carry on with. No, the war will always find an outlet, mark my words. Why should it ever stop?
(p. 50)
HOFMANN
COOK: That's the way I see it - your brandy is excellent, your face is the way I dreamed it too - but to get back to the King, the freedom he wanted to introduce to Germany proved expensive, because he had to introduce a salt tax in Sweden, which as I say cost the poor a lot of money, and then he had to have the Germans locked up and put some of them on the rack, because they did insist on clinging to their Emperor.
Sure, if someone didn't want to be free, well the King wasn't going to faff about. At first he only wanted to protect the Poles from evil men like the Emperor, but then, while he was eating, he started to get an appetite, and he decided he wanted to protect the whole of Germany. And Germany put up quite a fight. That way, the King got nothing but trouble for his kindness and his investment, and of course he had to raise money by taxation, which produced bad blood, but he wouldn't be put off by that. He had one thing in his favour, which was the word of God, and that was just as well. Because otherwise people would have said he was doing it for his own advantage and for gain. He always had a clear conscience, that was the main thing he cared about.
(p. 28)
HOFMANN
Note: Drink of choice, label for sleep, humor
CHAPLAIN: The way I see it, there's peace in wartime too - any war has its share of peaceful moments. War caters for all tastes, even those who want peace, otherwise it wouldn't be possible to keep it going. In war, you can go for a leisurely dump just like you can in peacetime, and between one engagement and the next there's time for a jar, and even while you're marching there's time for forty winks, on your elbows, by the side of the road, it's always on. Of course you can't expect to be able to play cards during a charge - but then you can't do that either while you're tilling your furrow in deepest peacetime - but then once victory's won, there's all sorts of possibilities. You might get your leg shot off, then you have a big cry as if it mattered, but eventually you'll calm down or get given some brandy, and finally you'll be hopping around and the war's none the worse for what's happened. And what's to stop you being fruitful and multiplying in the midst of all the carnage? You go behind a barn or somewhere, they'll never quite manage to put a stop to that, and then the war has your little ones, and has the use of them for a while. No, the war always finds a chink. Why should it ever stop?
(p. 57)
Figures of Speech - Scene 6
BENTLEY
WILLETT
HOFMANN
MOTHER COURAGE: Then you don’t think the war might end?
CHAPLAIN: Because a commander’s dead? Don’t be childish, they grow on trees. There are always heroes.
(p. 75)
MOTHER COURAGE: You don’t think war might end, then?
CHAPLAIN: What, because the commander in chief’s gone? Don’t be childish. They’re two a penny, no shortage of heroes.
(p. 48)
MOTHER COURAGE: It seems you don't believe the war will end?
CHAPLAIN: You mean, just because the General's bought one? Don't be silly. You get his like by the score, there's always heroes.
(p. 56)
Proverbs - Scene 8
BENTLEY
WILLETT
CHAPLAIN: But don't forget the proverb: he who sups with the devil must use a long spoon!
MOTHER COURAGE: Remember what one fox said to another that was caught in a trap? "If you stay there, you're just asking for trouble!" There isn't much love lost between me and the war. And when it comes to calling me a hyena, you and I part company.
(p. 87)
CHAPLAIN: In which case you shouldn't forget the ancient saying that whosoever sups with the devil needs a long spoon.
MOTHER COURAGE: I got no use for war, and war ain't got much use for me. But I'm not being called no hyaena, you and me's through.
(p. 61)
Prayers - Scene 11
BENTLEY
WILLETT
PEASANT WOMAN: Pray, poor thing, pray! There's nothing we can do to stop this bloodshed, so even if you can't talk, at least pray! He hears, if no one else does. I'll help you. Our Father, which art in Heaven, hear our prayer, let not the town perish with all that lie therein asleep and fearing nothing. Wake them, that they rise and go the walls and see the foe that comes with fire and sword in the night down the hill and across the fields.
(p. 105)
THE PEASANT'S WIFE: Pray, poor creature, pray! Now we can do to stop bloodshed. You can't talk, maybe, but at least you can pray. He'll hear you if no one else can. I'll help you. Our Father, which art in Heaven, hear Thou our prayer, let not the town be destroyed with all what's in it sound asleep and suspecting nowt. Arouse Thou them that they may get up and go to the walls and see how the enemy approacheth with pikes and guns in the blackness across fields below the slope.
(p. 77)
Empathy - Scene 5
BENTLEY
WILLETT
MOTHER COURAGE: I can't give you any. With all I have to pay out taxes, duties, bribes... (KATRIN takes up a board and threatens her mother with it, emitting gurgling sounds.) Are you out of your mind? Put that board down or I'll let you have one, you lunatic!
I'm giving nothing, I don't dare, I have myself to think of. (The CHAPLAIN lifts her bodily off the steps of the wagon and sets her down on the ground.
He takes out shirts from the wagon and tears them in strips.) My shirts, my officers' shirts!
(p. 71)
MOTHER COURAGE: Another baby to drag around, you must be pleased with yourself. Give it to its mother this minute! Or do I have to fight you again for hours till I get it from you? Are you deaf? (To the SECOND SOLDIER:) Don't stand about gawking, go back there and tell 'em to stop that music, I can see their victory without it. I have nothing but losses from your victory!
(p. 72)
MOTHER COURAGE: There she sits, happy as a lark in all this misery. Give the baby back, the mother is coming to! (She sees the FIRST SOLDIER. He had been handling the drinks, and is now trying to make off with the bottle.) God's truth! You beast! You want another victory, do you? Then pay for it!
(p. 72)
MOTHER COURAGE: I can't give nowt. What with expenses, taxes, loan interest and bribes. Making guttural noises, Kattrin raises a plank and threatens her mother with it. You gone plain crazy? Put that plank away or I'll paste you one, you cow. I'm giving nowt, don't want to, got to think of meself. The Chaplain lifts her off the steps and sets her on the ground, then starts pulling out shirts and tearing them into strips. My officers' shirts! Half a florin apiece! I'm ruined.
(p. 45)
MOTHER COURAGE: How nice, found another baby to cart around? Give it to its ma this instant, unless you'd have me fighting for hours to get it off you, like last time, d'you hear?
To the second soldier: Don't stand there gawping, you go back and tell them cut out that music, we can see it's a victory with our own eyes. All your victories mean to me is losses.
(p. 45)
MOTHER COURAGE: Look at her, happy as a queen in all this misery; give it back at once, its mother’s coming round. She catches the first soldier, who has been attacking the drinks and is trying to make off with one of the bottles. Psia krew! Thought you'd score another victory, you animal? Now pay.
(p. 46)
HOFMANN
Note: Bentley has an additional proverb/saying/saw that the others don't.
CHAPLAIN: Only don't forget the old saw: 'To sup with the Devil, take a long spoon!'
MOTHER COURAGE: I don't have any feelings for the war, and it's shown scant regard for me. And I don't want to hear any more about any hyena either. We're through, you and I.
(p. 69)
HOFMANN
Note: Differences in weaponry and labeling of Kattrin
FARMER'S WIFE: Say your prayers, child, say your prayers! There's nothing we can do to prevent bloodshed. Even if you can't speak, you can at least pray. He'll hear you, if no one else does. I'll help you. Our Father, which art in Heaven, hear our prayer, don't let the city be put to the sword, with all who are within it, asleep and unwitting. Wake them, cause them to rise and go out and see how their enemies are almost upon them, with spears and cannon, across the meadows, down from the hills.
(p. 87)
HOFMANN
MOTHER COURAGE: I can't give you anything. I've got overheads, customs duties, interest payments, bribes!
(Kattrin, making gurgling sounds, picks up a plank of wood and threatens her mother with it.) Put that plank down, or you'll catch it from me, you pestilence. I'm not giving you anything, I tell you, I need to look after number one.
(The Chaplain lifts her bodily off the cart steps, and sets her down on the ground; then he pulls out some shirts, and tears them into strips.) My fine officers' shirts! At half a gulden apiece! I'm ruined!
(p. 53)
MOTHER COURAGE: So you're happy to have found another baby to lug around with you? Give it to its mother this instant, before I have to pull it off you. (To the Second Soldier.) Stop gawping like that, go back and tell them to stop their noise, I can see from here that they've won. All I get from your victory is losses.
(p. 53)
MOTHER COURAGE:
Look at her, happy in the midst of all this misery; you give that thing right back, the mother's coming round.
(She notices the First Soldier setting about the drink, and about to make off with a bottle.) You abomination, have you not finished with your victory yet? You're paying for that.
(p. 54)
Note: Differences in finances, religious references, Mother Courage's patience.