"Mother Courage and Her Children" is a play written by German playwright Bertolt Brecht during the late 1930s and early 1940s. Set against the backdrop of the Thirty Years' War, the play follows the character of Mother Courage, a canteen-wagon-driving woman, as she navigates the war-torn landscape of Europe in an attempt to make a living and protect her three children.

Mother Courage, whose real name is Anna Fierling, is a shrewd and resourceful woman who tries to capitalize on the war by selling goods to soldiers. Despite her attempts to profit from the conflict, the war takes a heavy toll on her family. Her children—Eilif, Kattrin, and Swiss Cheese—each face their own challenges and tragic fates due to the brutality and senselessness of war.

Throughout the play, Brecht employs a unique theatrical style known as "epic theatre," characterized by a deliberate alienation effect that seeks to distance the audience emotionally and encourage critical engagement with the themes. The episodic structure and use of songs and commentary contribute to the overall didactic nature of the play.

As Mother Courage travels with her wagon, she encounters various characters and witnesses the destructive impact of war on individuals and communities. Despite her attempts to navigate the chaotic and violent world, Mother Courage faces personal losses and learns the harsh realities of survival in a war-ravaged society.

Brecht's "Mother Courage and Her Children" is a powerful anti-war drama that explores the dehumanizing effects of war and the moral compromises individuals make in the pursuit of survival. The play serves as a critique of war profiteering and the destructive nature of conflict on human relationships.