Azdak’s ‘golden age’

In the final scene, the singer describes how the people would remember “The period of his [Azdak’s] judging as a brief golden age / Almost an age of justice” (99). Arkadi’s language points to the widespread public approval of Azdak’s judgements, but also importantly notes that utopian age of justice has yet to occur. Brecht seems to the prod the audience into asking the question of what would constitute an actual age of justice? Is it possible to pinpoint what causes the gap between Azdak’s judgements and true justice? Arkadi’s discussion of Azdak’s golden age frames the time as a symbol of the human error intrinsic in the application of judgement.

Judge's Robes

The judge’s robes are, in a sense, a space which can be inhabited by any form of the law, including its absence. Azdak says, “…it...