Poem Analysis - The Mother

An Ode to Maternal Love

Lucy Maud Montgomery's "The Mother" is a tender and deeply personal exploration of maternal love. The poem captures the intense bond between a mother and her sleeping child, moving from adoration and protectiveness to a wistful contemplation of the future and the inevitable separation that time brings. The tone is initially warm and intimate, filled with loving observation, but it shifts to a more melancholic and possessive sentiment as the mother anticipates the changes to come. This subtle shift underscores the complex emotions inherent in motherhood – joy, love, but also a tinge of sadness and perhaps a hint of fear.

The All-Encompassing Nature of Maternal Love

One of the central themes is the overwhelming, all-encompassing nature of maternal love. The poem is saturated with imagery emphasizing the child's preciousness and the mother's desire to protect him. Phrases like "hungry hold," "mine completely, wholly and sweetly," and "flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone" reveal the depth and intensity of her feelings. This isn't just a gentle affection; it's a powerful, almost primal bond that seeks to enfold and possess. The mother's desire to shield her child "away from the grasping world" further illustrates the protective, all-consuming nature of her love. She sees the world as a potentially threatening force and desires to safeguard her son from it.

Anticipation and the Inevitable Passage of Time

The poem also explores the theme of the inevitable passage of time and the changes it will bring. The mother contemplates the future, wondering "Where will they tread? / Valleys of shadow or heights dawn-red?" and what "valorous deeds shall by them be done." This contemplation is tinged with a sense of wistfulness, as she recognizes that her son will grow and inevitably move away from her. The lines "Some bitter day you will love another,/ To her will bear/ Love-gifts and woo her...then must I share/ You and your tenderness!" highlight the bittersweet reality that her son's love will eventually be directed elsewhere. This recognition brings a melancholic undercurrent to the poem, contrasting with the initial joyous tone.

Symbols of Innocence and Potential

Throughout the poem, Montgomery employs recurring symbols to enhance its meaning. The child's golden hair, described as "a miser's dream of gold," symbolizes his preciousness and potential. Gold represents value and wealth, suggesting the boundless possibilities that lie ahead for him. His "white rose" face evokes purity, beauty, and innocence. The "violet" comparison serves a similar purpose but links the child's purity to the awakening of the world in spring and links the child to the season of birth and fresh starts. These images create a vivid picture of a child full of promise and untainted by the world.

The Enduring Power of a Mother's Influence

In conclusion, "The Mother" is a powerful and moving portrayal of maternal love, capturing its intensity, protectiveness, and the bittersweet awareness of time's passage. Through vivid imagery and heartfelt contemplation, Montgomery explores the complex emotions that define the mother-son relationship. The poem celebrates the profound bond between mother and child, while also acknowledging the inevitable changes that life brings. Ultimately, the poem suggests that a mother's love, though it may evolve over time, leaves an indelible mark, shaping her child's future and imbuing him with the "rapture and power and grace" born of her "poignant love and holy sorrow."