“Theatre is an agent of social change” – (Reference to Brecht and Mother Courage)

Songs are frequently used in this play, and interpret the story in an objective way. Throughout the play, this is what the songs did, as well as make intelligent observations and address real issues which Brecht wanted the audience to focus their attention on. The appearance of song at unlikely points in the play, when it is least expected is alienating and can confuse an audience. Another alienating characteristic is the fact that the melodic and lyrical singing contrasts with their serious content. In the third scene, for example, the chaplain's song tells of the horrors of Christ's story, and yet the song resembles a nursery rhyme.

To differ from the audience's expectations, is the purpose of the play's structure.  The passing of time which is unseen between the scenes is often great. After a dramatic event has occurred, the reactions of the characters are expected to be portrayed, or at least acknowledged, but instead the audience is shown occurrences of several years later. Thus, dramatic climaxes do not occur. Each scene is barely connected to the next, to the extent that the audience gets the impression that if a scene were removed, it would make little difference. There is no linked sequence of events, defying the characteristics of a traditional story. I personally think Brecht used the unusual sequence of events to comment on our lives. Most plays use a noted beginning and distinct end, but this is not what reality is. It moves backwards and forwards as we reflect on memories and make decisions about the future before it has even happened.

The methods used in ‘Mother Courage and her Children’ produced an alienating effect, and separated itself from the conventional attributes of theatre, which appealed to the audience's emotions and evoked empathy, causing them to share the characters feelings. Epic theatre, by definition, resolves to engage people's thinking and reasoning. Brecht objected to the emotional attitude of audiences and did not want them to submit to passive viewing, instead he challenged them to confront what they saw and analyse it. A significant method of alienation that ensures the audience does not get wrapped up in the suspenseful "what happens next" element of the story, is Brecht's messages at the beginning of each scene. It is introduced with a summary of the coming events, which gives a sense of inevitability which removes the audience’s capacity for passively viewing an unfolding plot. This creates a critical attitude, which Brecht believed was the only path to understanding. The problems of individual characters in Mother Courage are unimportant, the play's purpose as epic theatre is to attract the audience's attention toward more important social issues.

The characters in the play appear hypocritical, which would be particularly alienating to an audience of the conventional theatre. It is difficult for an audience  to relate to the characters and not only would an audience be unable to emotionally become involved, but they would not know how to even understand the characters. Due to the contradictions within the characters, and the fact that an audience member is not given a defined set of emotions with which to draw from, the idea is only accentuated. The greatest example of this is Mother Courage, who is selfish and egocentric in that she subscribes to capitalist principles and is blind to their consequences. Yet, an admirable trait may be that she keeps on going through hardships and confronts danger, surviving in a man's world and ignoring her own pain for the sake of her children. Though she disagrees with war in principle, she lacks strength of belief and exploits the war by profiting from it. The fact that she works hard constantly, but for little gain, would lead us to sympathise with her. Although her deeds in the beginning of scene 3, the selling of ammunition to the opposing army, makes us question her morals. Another example of a contradictory character is the chaplain, who would be expected to condemn war and disapprove of it completely, though he said, "War satisfies all requirements, peaceable ones included, they're catered for, and it would simply fizzle out if they weren't." The chaplain can be said to have been based on contradiction at first he was cold and formal, then later, on the battlefield, he helps the injured and shows a part of himself that is a victim.

What Brecht wanted to do to his audience, was a willingness to change people's attitudes, their money-centred mindsets which caused confusion in their basic moral values. According to Marx, whose principles Brecht believed in (although didn’t necessarily subscribe to): unless man has food and shelter, he does not have freedom. This is what Brecht asserts in ‘Mother Courage…’ and understanding can only be gained when audiences realise that:

“...the obvious is an irrelevance, that this play should be seen not as a tale but as a presenting of issues.”

By using techniques of character, song, structure, style, and set design, Brecht ensures that the audience remains alienated, and ultimately causes them to consider their lives and make them at the least think.