The Caucasian Chalk Circle

Scene 4 launches into an entirely new story, set within the same world and time frame of Grusha’s tale. The Singer introduces the story of the Judge, who will be the judge at Grusha and the Governor’s Wife’s trial. He tells the audience that “On the Easter Sunday of the great revolt […]/The village clerk Azdak found a fugitive in the woods and hid him in his hut” (91). The fugitive is dressed in rags, and Azdak assumes he is a poor villager in need of shelter. When he is inside, Azdak grows suspicious and asks to see the Fugitive’s hands. He sees they are not cracked like a servant’s and accuses the man of being a fraud.

Shauva, a policeman, knocks at the door and asks if Azdak is hiding the Fugitive. Azdak decides not to out the Fugitive and sends Shauva away. It turns out the beggar is the Grand Duke, who started the rebellion, in disguise. Upon making this discovery, Azdak is horrified that he helped shelter someone who oppresses the people. He is unaware that the riots are the Ironshirts and thinks that it’s the working class that has revolted against the Government. He turns himself in, afraid of what will happen if he is caught having betrayed his own class.

Soon, he discovers he was wrong and he’s accidentally turned himself over to the Ironshirts and the Fat Prince. The Fat Prince tells Azdak and the Ironshirts that when the Grand Duke escaped, the carpet weavers started a rebellion and deposed the Judge. He cries that Grusinia is in need of peace and justice and presents his nephew as a candidate for the new Judge. The people will elect the Judge, and the Fat Prince is determined his nephew will take the position.

The Ironshirts devise a plan to decide on the new Judge. One of them says, “We’ve decided to have a rehearsal. Our good friends will act as defendant, and here’s the Judge’s seat for the candidate” (100). Azdak points out that the Princes are not so different from the Grand Duke that they’ve just overthrown. The Fat Prince is furious, demanding that Azdak be taken away, but instead the Ironshirts make him the new Judge. They excuse the Fat Prince’s nephew, then sit Azdak down on the Judge’s thrown. One of the Ironshirts says, “the Judge was always a rascal. Now the rascal shall be the judge” (103). The Singer comes back out to keep the story going, stating that during the two years of Civil War, Azdak kept his place as Judge.

Over the course of these two years, Azdak becomes known for ruling in favor of the working classes, even while taking bribes from the rich. The Singer notes that Azdak “broke laws like bread” (110) to feed the impoverished.

Azdak is struck with fear, however, when the Governor’s Wife returns. He knows his time as Judge is running short. The scene ends with a worried Azdak and the entrance of the Governor’s Wife. The Adjutant, who is with her, announces that they wish to hold a trial between her and Grusha to determine the true mother of the child, Michael.