The Burning of the Books by Bertolt Brecht - Summary
The poem "The Burning of the Books" is written by Bertolt Brecht, a German dramatist and poet who faced persecution and ban from Nazi Regime who was reigning his native country. The poem was originally written in the German language but later translated into English by John Willet. It describes the century-old conflict between the Ruling class and the Artist community.
In the poem, the Regime passes an executive order to ban books which contain "harmful knowledge" and they are carried to a place for burning. It is unknown what constitutes "harmful knowledge", the Regime has its own vested interest in banning the books because the content in them questions their autocratic rule and represents ideologies opposed to Nazism.
A renowned writer who had been banished from the country checks the list of banned books and shocked when he can't see his books on the list. He hastens to his desk "on wings of wrath" i.e angrily and writes a letter to the rulers of his native country and challenges them to burn him. He further questions them if his books never reported the truth and by not enlisting his books on the list, they are terming the writer as a "liar". He exclaims with provocation to burn him.
The writer believes that it is honourable for a writer to earn a tyrant's wrath because a genuine writer portrays harsh truth which the oppressive Regime curbs and prevent it from spreading among common people. This can lead to rebellion against the Regime.
In the poem, the Regime passes an executive order to ban books which contain "harmful knowledge" and they are carried to a place for burning. It is unknown what constitutes "harmful knowledge", the Regime has its own vested interest in banning the books because the content in them questions their autocratic rule and represents ideologies opposed to Nazism.
A renowned writer who had been banished from the country checks the list of banned books and shocked when he can't see his books on the list. He hastens to his desk "on wings of wrath" i.e angrily and writes a letter to the rulers of his native country and challenges them to burn him. He further questions them if his books never reported the truth and by not enlisting his books on the list, they are terming the writer as a "liar". He exclaims with provocation to burn him.
The writer believes that it is honourable for a writer to earn a tyrant's wrath because a genuine writer portrays harsh truth which the oppressive Regime curbs and prevent it from spreading among common people. This can lead to rebellion against the Regime.