Scene 3 — The Corporal's Philosophy of War
from The Caucasian Chalk Circle
Written by Bertolt Brecht
A cynical Corporal berates a subordinate for his lack of enthusiasm and perceived insubordination during their march. He delivers a crude, visceral speech defining the 'ideal' soldier as someone who finds sexual gratification in violence and total devotion to their superior.
CORPORAL: You'll never amount to anything, blockhead, your heart's not in it. Your senior officer sees this in little things. Yesterday, when I made the fat gal, yes, you grabbed her husband as I commanded, and you did kick him in the belly, at my request, but did you enjoy it, like a loyal Private,
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