The Aged Mother Story in English For Kids

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 Story of the Aged Mother Summary

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 Thus, the proclamation was revoked and the custom was no longer practiced.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 Story of Aged Mother

Moral of the Aged Mother Story

The moral of The Aged Mother story is that knowledge of the elderly is as important as a young person's strength. The aspect of family relationships and harmonious relationships in general goes beyond laws, cultural norms, or even beyond rules and regulations. In today's chaotic world, the ability to live harmoniously with others is a valuable interpersonal skill.

Note To Parents  

The act of reading and telling such morally strong stories to children promotes the development of the brain and imagination, encourages language development and emotions, and strengthens relationships. The story of a mother will teach children to have a strong bond with their parents, especially mothers. They will learn to respect, be kind and help their mothers. There are times when you can read. Also, you may be able to look at picture books, sing songs, or tell stories from your culture.