Patrick Oconnell
In the play 'Mother Courage and Her Children', Swiss Cheese is the paymaster for a regiment in the Swedish army. He is Mother Courage's younger son and the first of her children to die. After the Catholic army defeats the Swedes, Swiss Cheese tries to hide the regiment's cash box instead of giving it to his family so that he can eventually return it to his commanders. He is captured, tortured, and executed. Mother Courage attempts to buy his freedom but fails because she wastes too much time trying to bargain down the price. Swiss Cheese's death is interpreted as an allegory for Jesus' crucifixion, but there is no clear connection between the two.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Play | Mother Courage and Her Children |
| Written By | Bertolt Brecht |
| Character | Swiss Cheese |
| Relationship to Mother Courage | Younger Son |
| Other Family | Half-brother of Eilif and Kattrin |
| Occupation | Paymaster for a Regiment in the Swedish Army |
| Virtues | Honest and Loyal |
| Reason for Death | Caught and Executed by Catholics |
| Mother's Reaction | Tries to Buy His Freedom, Fails, and Denies Knowing Him |
| Allegory | None; Not a Jesus Figure |
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What You'll Learn
Swiss Cheese's execution and its parallels with Jesus' crucifixion
Swiss Cheese meets his demise in Scene Three of Bertolt Brecht's play, Mother Courage and Her Children. As the honest and loyal son of Mother Courage, Swiss Cheese works as a paymaster for a regiment in the Swedish army. However, his virtues ultimately lead to his downfall. After the Catholic army defeats the Swedes, Swiss Cheese tries to hide the regiment's cash box instead of following his mother's suggestion to pocket the money. He intends to return the box to his commanders but is caught and executed.
Swiss Cheese's death stands in stark contrast to Jesus' self-sacrifice. While Jesus died for the sins of mankind and ascended to heaven, Swiss Cheese's death is devoid of any apparent salvation for the characters in the play. Brecht intentionally avoids portraying Swiss Cheese as a Christ-like figure, emphasizing the absence of redemption in the harsh reality of the play's world.
The Chaplain's song, "The Song of the Hours," further underscores the connection between Swiss Cheese's execution and the Passion of Christ. The song briefly recounts the suffering and death of Jesus, providing a stark reminder of the absence of salvation in the play's context.
Swiss Cheese's execution also highlights the theme of maternal love and its value. Mother Courage attempts to buy her son's freedom, but her efforts are in vain due to her insistence on haggling over the price. This scene prompts the audience to consider the worth of a child in the eyes of a mother, as Mother Courage loses another child amidst her relentless pursuit of business and profit.
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Swiss Cheese's capture and torture
Swiss Cheese, the younger son of Mother Courage, is captured and tortured after trying to hide his regiment's paybox from invading Catholic soldiers.
Swiss Cheese is an honest and loyal paymaster for a regiment in the Swedish army. However, his virtues also lead to his demise. After the Catholic army defeats the Swedes, Mother Courage suggests that the family keep the money in Swiss Cheese's cashbox. Instead, Swiss Cheese tries to hide it so that he can eventually return it to his commanders. He is caught and tortured by the Catholics, who have been searching for him and the paybox.
Swiss Cheese is confronted by two men—an enemy sergeant and a man with a bandage over his eye. These men are likely spies, as the chaplain has previously encountered a one-eyed man whom he suspects of being a spy. Swiss Cheese is questioned about the paybox and is captured and taken away, despite Mother Courage denying that she knows him.
Mother Courage attempts to bribe the soldiers to spare Swiss Cheese's life. She plans to pawn her wagon and redeem it later with the money from the paybox. However, when Swiss Cheese claims that he has thrown the box into the river, Mother Courage backtracks on the price, and the soldiers refuse the bribe.
Swiss Cheese is executed, and his body is discarded as no one claims it. His death serves as a reminder that there is no salvation for the characters in the play.
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Mother Courage's failed attempt to buy his freedom
Mother Courage and Her Children is a play set in the 17th century during the Thirty Years' War in Europe. The protagonist, Mother Courage, is a woman who follows the Protestant army, selling provisions to soldiers. She has three children: Eilif, Kattrin, and Schweizerkas, or Swiss Cheese.
In the third scene of the play, Swiss Cheese, the paymaster for a regiment in the Swedish army, finds himself in a precarious situation. After the Catholic army defeats the Swedes, Swiss Cheese is in possession of the regiment's cash box. He tries to hide it by the river, intending to return it to his commanders eventually. However, he is caught and confronted by two men, one of whom has a bandage over his eye and is searching for him.
Mother Courage, upon learning of Swiss Cheese's capture, attempts to buy his freedom. She plans to pawn her wagon and reclaim it later with the money from the cash box. She sends Yvette, a prostitute, to persuade the soldiers to accept the bribe. However, Swiss Cheese is executed before Mother Courage can secure his release.
Swiss Cheese's honesty and loyalty, the very traits that made him a trusted paymaster, ultimately lead to his demise. His capture and execution serve as a cynical re-enactment of Jesus' crucifixion, highlighting the absence of salvation for the characters in the play. Mother Courage's failed attempt to buy his freedom underscores the tragic loss of yet another child, a recurring theme in the play.
The scene where Mother Courage tries to bargain for Swiss Cheese's life raises questions about the value of human life and the role of self-interest in war and capitalism. The tension builds with each of Yvette's entrances, as the audience anticipates whether the bribe will be accepted in time. Unfortunately, Mother Courage's efforts are in vain, and she loses her son, Swiss Cheese, to the ravages of war.
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Swiss Cheese's honesty and loyalty leading to his demise
Swiss Cheese is a character in the play "Mother Courage and Her Children", written by Bertolt Brecht. He is Mother Courage's younger son and is described as honest and loyal. However, these virtues ultimately lead to his demise.
In the play, Swiss Cheese becomes the paymaster for a regiment in the Swedish army. When the Catholic army defeats the Swedes, Mother Courage suggests that the family keep the money in Swiss Cheese's cash box. However, Swiss Cheese tries to hide the box so that he can eventually return it to his commanders. He is caught and executed.
Swiss Cheese's honesty and loyalty to his commanders lead to his demise. Despite the danger, he tries to do the right thing by returning the money. He is also loyal to his family, as he is reluctant to steal from his commanders to benefit himself and his family. This loyalty and honesty ultimately lead to his capture and execution.
Swiss Cheese's death serves as a reminder of the harsh realities of the world in which the play is set. It also highlights the self-interested and warmongering nature of some of the characters, particularly Mother Courage, who is more concerned with her business and making a profit than with the well-being of her children.
Swiss Cheese's execution is also interpreted as an allegory for Jesus' crucifixion. However, it is a cynical re-do of this event, as there is no salvation or resurrection for Swiss Cheese. His death underscores the lack of meaning and hope in the world of the play.
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Swiss Cheese's relationship with Mother Courage
Swiss Cheese is Mother Courage's younger son and Kattrin's half-brother. He is described as "honest and loyal", and his honesty is said to be his fatal virtue.
Swiss Cheese becomes the paymaster for a regiment in the Swedish army. After the Catholic army defeats the Swedes, Mother Courage suggests that the family keep the money in Swiss Cheese's cashbox. However, Swiss Cheese tries to hide it so that he can eventually return it to his commanders. He is caught and executed.
Swiss Cheese's execution has been interpreted as an allegory for Jesus' crucifixion. However, others disagree with this interpretation, arguing that there is no connection between Swiss Cheese and Jesus. Instead, they argue that Swiss Cheese's execution is a cynical re-do of Jesus' crucifixion, reminding the audience that there is no such thing as salvation for the characters in the play.
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Frequently asked questions
Swiss Cheese is executed by the Catholics after being captured and tortured.
Swiss Cheese is the paymaster for a regiment in the Swedish army. After the Catholics defeat the Swedes, Swiss Cheese tries to hide the regiment's cash box instead of giving it to his mother, Mother Courage, to keep safe. He is caught and executed.
Soldiers slash Mother Courage's wagon, fine her, and send her away. Mother Courage does not acknowledge Swiss Cheese's body, and it is discarded.
