The Aged Mother
The Aged Mother
by Matsuo Basho
by Matsuo Basho
Japanese folktale 'The Aged Mother', written by Matsuo Basho who lived in the 1640s, tells
the story of an old woman. In the story of a mother, we are introduced to a son and an aged
mother living in a town where the mayor orders all the old people to be abandoned and left
to die. Because of his fear of vulnerability, the governor of Shining outlawed the elderly.
Japanese folktale 'The Aged Mother', written by Matsuo Basho who lived in the 1640s, tells
the story of an old woman. In the story of a mother, we are introduced to a son and an aged
mother living in a town where the mayor orders all the old people to be abandoned and left
to die. Because of his fear of vulnerability, the governor of Shining outlawed the elderly.
The Aged Mother by Matsuo Basho explores themes of power, selfishness,
honesty, forgiveness, wisdom, love, and change. The story is told in the third person
by an unnamed narrator, and it is evident from the outset that Basho is exploring
the theme of power. In Shining, the ruler abuses his power by ordering the people
to kill their elderly parents.
As a warrior, the ruler does not see the benefit of old people. He only
realises the benefits of preserving old people at the end of the story. The ruler in
Shining acts selfishly because he realises everyone will eventually be old, but it
doesn't occur to anyone. As a result, they blindly obey the ruler's request until the
farmer realizes that he cannot kill or let his mother die.
To save his mother's life, he risks his own life. That's why he hides his
mother in his home, something he knows will not please the ruler of Shining.
Nevertheless, when the situation called for it, he was forced to take his mother up
the mountain and abandon her as a gentle means of killing her. When he reached
the summit, just before climbing down the mountain, his mother advised him to
follow the twigs she had left lying on the ground.
Having been touched by her advice and concern for his safety, he could not
bear to leave her. So he returned home with her and hid her beneath the floor
where he tended to her. On one windless night, the ruler wanted to show his
power. He ordered everyone, even his wisemen, to make a rope of ashes. The
people of Shining were confused as to how to carry out such an impossible task.
However, the farmer made the rope of ashes with the help of his mother's
wisdom by twisting straw and burning it stretched across a row of flat stones.
Knowing that he could not accomplish this task alone, he explained to the
ruler that it was the wisdom of his elderly mother who enabled him to complete
the task. The king initially imprisoned the man, but over time he came to his senses
and cited the saying: "With the crown of snow, wisdom comes!" Thus, the
proclamation was revoked and the custom was no longer practiced.
At the end of the story, the ruler appears to have changed his mind after
hearing the farmer describe how he made the rope from ashes. The ruler admits
his error to others for the first and only time in the story.
The Aged Mother by Matsuo Basho explores themes of power, selfishness,
honesty, forgiveness, wisdom, love, and change. The story is told in the third person
by an unnamed narrator, and it is evident from the outset that Basho is exploring
the theme of power. In Shining, the ruler abuses his power by ordering the people
to kill their elderly parents.
As a warrior, the ruler does not see the benefit of old people. He only
realises the benefits of preserving old people at the end of the story. The ruler in
Shining acts selfishly because he realises everyone will eventually be old, but it
doesn't occur to anyone. As a result, they blindly obey the ruler's request until the
farmer realizes that he cannot kill or let his mother die.
To save his mother's life, he risks his own life. That's why he hides his
mother in his home, something he knows will not please the ruler of Shining.
Nevertheless, when the situation called for it, he was forced to take his mother up
the mountain and abandon her as a gentle means of killing her. When he reached
the summit, just before climbing down the mountain, his mother advised him to
follow the twigs she had left lying on the ground.
Having been touched by her advice and concern for his safety, he could not
bear to leave her. So he returned home with her and hid her beneath the floor
where he tended to her. On one windless night, the ruler wanted to show his
power. He ordered everyone, even his wisemen, to make a rope of ashes. The
people of Shining were confused as to how to carry out such an impossible task.
However, the farmer made the rope of ashes with the help of his mother's
wisdom by twisting straw and burning it stretched across a row of flat stones.
Knowing that he could not accomplish this task alone, he explained to the
ruler that it was the wisdom of his elderly mother who enabled him to complete
the task. The king initially imprisoned the man, but over time he came to his senses
and cited the saying: "With the crown of snow, wisdom comes!" Thus, the
proclamation was revoked and the custom was no longer practiced.
At the end of the story, the ruler appears to have changed his mind after
hearing the farmer describe how he made the rope from ashes. The ruler admits
his error to others for the first and only time in the story.