Everything written in this essay has been taken from “The Mother”, by Gwendolyn Brooks.
Abortions. It is the first word of the poem, and the first word of this essay. Used as an attempt to grab the reader, and keep them hooked, “Abortions will not let you forget.” (L. 1). Forget what? Forget the feeling of a doctor extracting a dead fetus from a womb? Or, forgetting that a one-night fling, turned into getting pregnant unintentionally? It might not have been just a one time thing, it could possibly revolve around multiple attempts to finally carry a child, however, when it finally happened, no one was ready for it. Was it a mistake, forced, or a choice? Whoever is speaking, speaks like a mother with experience, however, there is no indication that this speaker ever held a child. Yet, expresses a deep love only a mother could …show more content…
Even though two personas are present in “The Mother”, the one that stands out the most is the persona of woman who regrets her decision to never become a mother. Regarding the inability to forget abortions, the second line gives a clue to whether or not it was a choice for the mother, “You remember the children you got that you did not get,” (L.2). It can be read in two ways. One, she got the child, however, she did not want it. Two, She got it, however, could not have it. The speaker was clearly upset either way, even if in scenario one she regretted it later in her life, because in the next couple of lines the speaker gives examples as to some of the joys of being a mother she will never get to do, “You will never neglect or beat/ Them, or silence or buy with a sweet/ You will never wind up a sucking thumb/ Or scuttle of ghosts to come.” (L. 5-8). These lines could be played as a warning to future mothers who are deciding to throw away these
Abortions. It is the first word of the poem, and the first word of this essay. Used as an attempt to grab the reader, and keep them hooked, “Abortions will not let you forget.” (L. 1). Forget what? Forget the feeling of a doctor extracting a dead fetus from a womb? Or, forgetting that a one-night fling, turned into getting pregnant unintentionally? It might not have been just a one time thing, it could possibly revolve around multiple attempts to finally carry a child, however, when it finally happened, no one was ready for it. Was it a mistake, forced, or a choice? Whoever is speaking, speaks like a mother with experience, however, there is no indication that this speaker ever held a child. Yet, expresses a deep love only a mother could …show more content…
Even though two personas are present in “The Mother”, the one that stands out the most is the persona of woman who regrets her decision to never become a mother. Regarding the inability to forget abortions, the second line gives a clue to whether or not it was a choice for the mother, “You remember the children you got that you did not get,” (L.2). It can be read in two ways. One, she got the child, however, she did not want it. Two, She got it, however, could not have it. The speaker was clearly upset either way, even if in scenario one she regretted it later in her life, because in the next couple of lines the speaker gives examples as to some of the joys of being a mother she will never get to do, “You will never neglect or beat/ Them, or silence or buy with a sweet/ You will never wind up a sucking thumb/ Or scuttle of ghosts to come.” (L. 5-8). These lines could be played as a warning to future mothers who are deciding to throw away these