The play is not set in modern times. It is set during the Thirty Years' War of 1618-1648. The play revolves around a wily canteen woman, nicknamed Mother Courage. She works with the Swedish Army. She is quite courageous and she has decided to make her living from the war.

Anna Fierling or Mother Courage loses her three children to the same war from which she happens to have sought to earn profit. Her three children were Swiss Cheese, Eilif, and Kattrin.

Ready Reference Treatise: Mother Courage and Her Children
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Chapter Five: Critical Analysis