Literary Elements of "The Mother" By Gwendolyn Brooks

“The Mother” by Gwendolyn Brooks was one of the more “different” poems read during the duration of this class. Reading something in which was so heart felt but yet something so self-centered was different in a sense. The author was clearly very depressed about the decision that she had made but yet seemed to be okay with what had been done. The “mother” had aborted her unborn child and throughout the story she seems to be upset about it in a way but yet shows little remorse for what had happened. The author says “Believe me I loved you all (Roberts, 652-53).” This shows that she is remorseful over the abortion of her unborn children but yet she says “Though why should I whine… Since anyhow you are dead (Roberts, 653).” This shows that she does not truly regret what she has done. Knowing it does hurt because the mother now has to live the rest of her life knowing she will never have a chance to get to know the baby and will also have unanswered questions. Would it have been a girl or boy? What color eyes would the baby have had? These are just of few of the many questions in which she will never know the answer to. The story’s main message that is trying to be put across is showing that even though having an abortion can be painful some people try to hide the fact that they are remorseful by trying not to care or push away the emotions they are having. The conflict of the story is very easy to pick out because the narrator is talking about the abortion in which she has had. In some cases such as the statement “Believe me I loved you all (Roberts, 653)” shows there could have possibly been more than just one abortion. The conflict that the narrator was facing is how she should feel after having aborted her unborn child. She talks about how she will never get to do anything she should have had the chance to do being a mother. On the other hand then she asks why should she be upset, because being upset is not going to undo what has been done. The two things she is having to decide on in this story is exactly how she should feel. Should she feel pain for what has happened or more on with her life and try to ward out the thoughts of her ever having a child. The tone of this poem is depressing and deep. This poem’s tone hit me in a way I have never felt before, just for the simple fact I have never had a child and knowing how I feel about abortions. By the mother taking her child’s life and not giving them the chance to live is heart breaking and cruel. Still, I have a sense of feeling sorry for her because of the decision she has made. Now she has to live with making the decision forever and she will never have a chance to be the mother she could have been.

Roberts, Edgar V., and Robert Zweig. Literature: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. 10th ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.