Mother Courage and Her Children Lesson Plan

Consider the Sergeant's argument about war at the beginning of Scene 1. He argues that war brings about organization--that things and people are counted and named to be made useful for war. Is the Sergeant correct in asserting that war and organization are co-constitutive? Try to answer the question using examples from history or from today.

Students might consider technological innovation or social organization when weighing whether war is ultimately their most significant driving force. There will be some situations where war is an important driver of social and technological change and others where it is not. Students should compare and contrast these instances, also...