The problemtological dimension of Brechtian Theatre: Mother Courage and Her Children

Authors

  • Roxana-Simona POCLID Universitatea „Al. I. Cuza” din Iaşi

Keywords:

rhetoric, Bertolt Brecht, theatre, problematology, Michel Meyer

Abstract

The evolution of rhetoric, starting with Aristotle and continued later with Chaïm Perelman, Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca, Michel Meyer, showed that in a discourse it is not enough to use logical arguments. We know that when we try to persuade and seduce, we usually don’t get to the people through rational means. In order to tell our truths, we use explanations and we give examples from our own experience. Theatre, through rhetorical discourse, constitutes a perfect mode to share subjective truths, because each play is the interpretation of an author. The rhetorical discourse not only shares subjective truths, but also provides some answers to important questions. This article focuses on the play Anna Fierling and Her Children, according with the view of Michel Meyer about rhetoric. Which are the relevant questions that the play brings out and, more importantly, the answers gave by the characters have a problematological aspect?

References

BRECHT, Bertolt. 1967. Opera de trei parale București: Editura pentru literatură.

JAMISON, I. David. 1991. „Michel Meyer’s Philosophy of Problematology: Toward a New Theory of Argument”. Argumentation 5: 57-68. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Netherlands.

MEYER, Michel. 2006. Comicul și tragicul – perspectivă asupra teatrului și a istoriei sale, traducere Raluca Bourceanu, studiu introductiv de Constantin Sălăvăstru. Iași: Editura Universității „Alexandru Ioan Cuza”.

MEYER, Michel, CUSHMAN, L. Marlene. 1982. „Argumentation in the Light of a Theory of Questioning”, Philosophy & Rhetoric 5 (2).

MEYER, Michel. 1995. Of Problematology: Philosophy, Science and Language, London: The University of Chicago Press.

MEYER, Michel. 2011. Principia Rhetorica: Teoria Generală a Argumentării. Iași: Editura Universității „Alexandru Ioan Cuza”.

PERELMAN, Chaïm, OLBRECHTS-TYTECA, Lucie. 2012. Tratat de argumentare. Noua retorică. Iași: Editura Universității „Alexandru Ioan-Cuza”.

SĂLĂVĂSTRU, Constantin. 2010. Mic tratat de oratorie, ediția a doua. Iași: Editura Universității „Alexandru Ioan Cuza”.

Published

02/20/2019

Issue

Section

Rhetorical Tools and the Creative Discourse