“There are times when our actions are motivated by self-sacrifice.” Write an essay using specific illustrations from The Caucasian Chalk Circle to support this statement.
Actions may sometimes be influenced by the will to serve others and not get anything in return. There occasions where those in power have risked life in order to serve the best interest of society. This, in particular, is the forte of whistleblowers in countries like Kenya. In the play The Caucasian Chalk Circle, this is shown by various characters.
Grusha despite warnings from fellow workers decides to risk her life when the governor is killed and war breaks out to look after Michael who had been left behind. Her willingness to look after the child is driven by the compassion that is beyond reason. She feels she is not safe, yet she keeps on looking after the child. By morning, when no one comes for the child, she takes him with her.
On her journey to the Northern Mountains, Grusha does not mind her little savings. She out of impulse buys the expensive milk from the old peasant. Furthermore, when confronted by three Ironshirts, she gathers the energy of a mother and hits him and runs away with the child.
When confronted by indecision of crossing the rotten bridge, Grusha has to choose to confront the Ironshirts in hot pursuit and risking her life across the abyss. She crosses the bridge. She is forced to endure winter hiding from her sister-in-law and agrees to marry the dying man just to legalize her possession of the child. In marrying the dying man she forgets her promise to Simon Shashava.
When Simon comes back and learns of her betrayal, he gets bitter and angry at her. Before Grusha could explain her position, the Ironshirts picks up Michael who was playing and takes him to Nuka- the capital. Grusha is torn between the man he loves and the child she has come to care about. She chooses the better instinct and follows the child to Nuka where she risks being spotted by the Ironshirts she had hit.
Simon comes to learn about Grusha’s tribulation and stands behind her as the real father of the child. Despite committing perjury by lying to the court, Simon confronts Azdak who fully knows that the young lady in question was married to someone else.
Azdak is also among the people who sacrifice a lot to rein order in Grusinia and the time when the rich are corrupt and apathetic to the plight of the poor. Using the power bestowed on him as a judge, he cunningly twists the law to favour the poor and the weak. When Natella loses the case, Azdak hands the late governor’s estates- tied in Michael’s name- to the city declaring that they should be turned into playgrounds for children.
From the above illustrations it is clear that self-interest is impulsive and requires bravery for one to pull. Only the selfless are capable of risking their life for the sake of others.
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