This blog was prepared in response to a poem reading task given by Barad Sir. In this blog, I will analyze the poem "The Bread of People" by Bertolt Brecht in accordance with the style and approach of I. A. Richards in his work on Figurative Language.
Poem: The Bread of People
Justice is the bread of the people
Sometimes is plentiful, sometimes it is scarce
Sometimes it tastes good, sometimes it tastes bad.
When the bread is scarce, there is hunger.
When the bread is bad, there is discontent.
Throw away the bad justice
Baked without love, kneaded without knowledge!
Justice without flavour, with a grey crust
The stale justice which comes too late!
If the bread is good and plentiful
The rest of the meal can be excused.
One cannot have plenty of everything all at once.
Nourished by the bread of justice
The work can be achieved
From which plenty comes.
As daily bread is necessary
So is daily justice.
It is even necessary several times a day.
From morning till night, at work, enjoying oneself.
At work which is an enjoyment.
In hard times and in happy times
The people requires the plentiful, wholesome
Daily bread of justice.
Since the bread of justice, then, is so important
Who, friends, shall bake it?
Who bakes the other bread?
Like the other bread
The bread of justice must be baked
By the people.
Plentiful, wholesome, daily.
Literal Reading of Poem
This poem by Bertolt Brecht seems like an easy poem at first reading, but it conveys a deep message of justice in society through the analogy between bread and justice. Sometimes bread, as in justice, is plentiful and sometimes it scares, and when it scares, there is hunger in society, and when it is bad, there seems discontent among people. Poet argues that daily bread is necessary just as daily justice, and sometime it is necessary several times a day as we eat more than one time in the day. At the end, the bread of the people must be baked by people who are healthy and plentiful.
Problematizing the Poem
The poem is simple to read and understand and does not contain heavy and perplexing poetic words, but still, there are some things that can be problematic.
- Though it seems appropriate in the context of the poem, it is a far-fetched idea to compare bread and justice, like there cannot be a comparison between bread and justice.
- When a poet makes the point that 'the bread of justice must be baked by the people', does that mean that justice should be given by people?
• These lines are difficult to understand in the first reading.
'If the bread is good and plentiful
The rest of the meal can be excused.
One cannot have plenty of everything all at once.
Nourished by the bread of justice
The work can be achieved
From which plenty comes'.
Explanation given by ChatGPT
These lines mean that if justice is strong and plentiful in a society, it can make up for other problems. It's like saying if the foundation, which is represented by the "bread of justice," is good, it can cover up or make amends for other issues in society. The metaphor suggests that having a solid and abundant justice system can compensate for shortcomings in other areas. The lines also acknowledge that it's challenging to have everything perfect at the same time. Overall, the emphasis is on how justice plays a crucial role, like good food, in supporting and improving society.
'Since the bread of justice, then, is so important
Who, friends, shall bake it?
Who bakes the other bread'?
Explanation given by ChatGPT
These lines are basically asking who is responsible for ensuring justice, using the metaphor of baking bread. The poet is telling us to think collectively and is addressing us as "friends." The question about who bakes the other bread is like saying, who takes care of other important things in life. Overall, the lines make us think about our shared responsibility in making sure justice is not just talked about but actively worked on. It stresses the importance of everyone working together to create a fair and just society.
Aim of Author
The poet has two main goals in this poem. Firstly, poet want to underscore the importance of justice in society, comparing it to the essential role of daily bread in people's lives. Secondly, there's a focus on urging people to take an active role in building and sustaining a fair society. The poem prompts readers to think about the quality and accessibility of justice, promoting the idea that it's a shared responsibility to ensure justice is abundant, genuine, and a regular aspect of everyday life.
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