THE AGED MOTHER

by: Matsuo Basho

Setting:

At the foot of the Mountain Shinano, Japan

Characters:

 The aged mother- the main character of the story, who has the wisdom that

brings to save and benefited their land

 The young farmer- the son of the aged mother

 The daimio-the despotic ruler of Shinano but later on he learned to give

importance the old folks.

PLOT

Introduction:

Long long time ago, at the foot of the mountain, there lived a poor farmer and

his aged, widowed mother. This place was governed by a despotic and cruel leader

which once proclaimed that all aged people should immediately put to death by

abandoning them to the mountain of Obatsuyama until their death came.

Rising Action:

The poor farmer loved his aged mother and the order filled his heart with

sorrow. So with many deep hopeless sighs, the youth prepared some food and started

their painful journey up to the mountain.

Climax:

At last, they reach the summit. The weary and heartsick youth gently released

his old mother. Before he live his mother, the old woman told his son about the mark of

the pile of twigs that will guide him to the way home. At that point, the farmer realizes

that whatever happens he should not left his mother alone. So he decided that both of

them will go home and will die together.

Falling Action:
 Both of them follow the pile of twigs and went home. He hide his mother at a

closet of their kitchen so that, the Heralds in Shinano will not find the old woman. Time

passed, the farmer feel safe until again, the despotic leader sent fort Heralds with his

command. He wanted someone to present to him a rope of ashes.

End:

One night, the son told his hidden mother about the command. The old woman

thinks of an idea. She commanded her son to make a rope twisted straw and stretch it

upon a row of flat stones and burn it there into the windless night. With the help of

other people, they successfully made it and present to the governor. The governor was

pleased at the wit of the youth, and from that, his cruel law was abolished. The

governor awakened in the truth and remembered the saying ´With the crown of snow,

there cometh wisdomµ. That very hour, the cruel leader become kind and humble to his

people.

Theme:

“A mother’s love is something that no one can explain. It is made of deep

devotion and of sacrifice and pain, it is endless and unselfish”.