In scene eleven of Mother Courage we see a peasant family who is trying to look out for their family in the town below, which is about to be attacked by the Catholic Regiment. At this point of the scene Kattrin climbs up onto the peasants roof and begins beating her drum. This drum is a symbol for Kattrin's voice, as she uses it to try and save the other people in the town below. Being disabled, Kattrin is observed as the physically weaker character as she is described as 'poor creature' which dehumanizes her.
However, we see throughout the scene that in fact, Kattrin is the strongest character in the play as her compassion for others is more important than her own life. This is seen as the peasant family try to stop Kattrin from playing the drum to save themselves, and they threaten to kill her. This risk of death illustrates that idea that surrounds the scene, the threat of death. In this moment "Kattrin starts to cry, but she goes on drumming". This shows that although Kattrin knows she is risking her life, she is prepared to die as she knows that her one life is less valuable than a entire town. This compassion and care shows that audience that even though Kattrin does not speak, she has the loudest and most influential voice, which is the irony of the play.
Throughout the scene the peasant man and his wife are seen onlooking at the town below where their family are, but they have no desire to go and save them and believe that their fate has been made. This shows the destruction of war, as people think of self, and not of others. They are willing to kill one person, or observe a towns killing in order to save themselves.
On page 82 the peasant wife says a long speech to Kattrin, ordering her to pray for the town to be saved. In the speech she says a parody of the Lord's prayer, "Our Father, which art in Heaven, hear Thou our prayer, let not the town be destroyed" This parody signifies what is real in the world has been distorted. People thinking only of oneself, rather than for others.
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