Puntila and Matti, his Hired Man

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The play Puntila and Matti, his Hired Man (Herr Puntila und sein Knecht Matti, 1941) is one of Bertolt Brecht's modern social criticism plays. It's about a landlord, seemingly ever-drunk, and his ever-loyal hired man, Matti.

The play was written in collaboration with Finnish-Estonian female playwright Hella Wuolijoki during Brecht's exile in Finland. It was first titled "Iso-Heikkilän isäntä ja hänen renkinsä Kalle" -"Master Iso-Heikkilä and his Hired Man Kalle." However, Brecht soon "forgot" Wuolijoki's contribution, re-named the play and published it by his own name only.

The Story describes the Landlord Puntila's Relationship to his hired man, Matti, as well as his daughter, Eva, who he wants to marry off to an Attaché. But Eva herself loves Matti and so Puntila is put to a decision, to marry his daughter to either a driver or to a rich Attaché, while he also deals with his drinking problem.