Although not as widely recognized and produced due to its short length, the play is a good representation both of Brecht's writing style and political beliefs.
[citation needed] It serves as an allegory for the actions of European countries during World War II via the experiences of the pig farmer Dansen as he deals with a stranger who is terrorizing local business owners.
[citation needed] Brecht wrote this short play, as well as the very similar How Much Is Your Iron?, while seeking refuge in Denmark and Sweden from the fear of persecution under Nazism.
At the time of writing, Germany had annexed Poland and Czechoslovakia following the principle of appeasement that Western powers hoped would keep Adolf Hitler from expanding further.
The character of Dansen represents Switzerland, as made clear by the red rag with a white cross (i.e. the Swiss flag) he uses to wipe his face.
He is beginning to feel that things are no longer safe in his neighborhood and shares that Svedson, Czech, and himself have been discussing arming themselves using the iron in the storehouse.
The Stranger, after exiting the store and replacing its sign with a more German one, notices Dansen as the pig under the tub squeals.
Taking note of this, The Stranger tricks Dansen into signing a friendship pact that will keep him from interfering in his affairs in return for protection.
As the scene opens, Dansen is on the phone with Svedson again, assuring him that everything is fine and that he will be willing to invest his money in arming themselves if The Stranger breaks his contract.
The phone goes dead and Dansen begins to patrol the door to Svedson's storehouse, using his rolled up friendship pact with The Stranger as a mock rifle.
Dansen concludes by singing a stanza of the Danish royal anthem, King Christian Stood by the Tall Mast.
They believed this to be the first production of the piece in English as it was likely that Brecht wrote it for a worker's theatre group just as he was leaving Denmark for Sweden and the play was lost in the transition.