The Mother of a Traitor
by
Maxim Gorky
(Summary)
This story is about the mother and the
motherhood. It deals with Monna Marianna, the mother of a traitor. Her son was
the leader of the enemy who had surrounded the city. The enemy had surrounded
the city in the tight ring of steel; they had also cut off all the supplies of
water and food. The people in the city had little hope of help. Their hope of
salvation was waning day by day.
Marianna
moved about in the streets all alone. She was hated by most people. She wandered
from place to place by night. One day she saw a woman kneeling beside a corpse.
It was of her son. Her husband had died thirteen days ago. Her son died that
day. The woman said to Marianna:
“Now
that he has died honorably fighting for his country, I can say that I feared
for him: he was light – hearted, too fond of revelry and I feared that he might
betray his city, as did the son of Marianna, the enemy of God and Man, the
leader of our foes, may he be so cursed and the womb that bore him!”
The woman
did not know that she was talking to Marianna herself. Marianna covered her
face and went on her way. The next morning, she went to the city’s defenders
and said “My son has come to be your enemy. Either kill me or open the gates
that I may go to him.” The soldiers took counsel with one another and decided
that it was no use killing the lady for the sins of her son. They were certain
that she could not have led her son to commit this terrible sin. Therefore,
they opened the gate and let her go. In the enemy’s camp, the soldiers enquired
from her who she was and why she had come. She replied:
“Your
leader is my son, she said”, Just then came her son. He kissed her hands and
said” Mother! you have come to me. You are with me. Tomorrow I shall capture
the city. I have spared this city for your sake; it has been like a thorn in my
flesh. It has retarded my swift rise to fame. But now tomorrow I shall capture
the city”. They conversed for a long time. Soon it was dark. The mother said to
him “come my son, lay thy head on my breast and rest, remember how gay and kind
you were as a child, and how everyone loved you”. He obeyed her, laid his head
in her lap and closed his eyes. He dozed there on mother’s breast – like a
child. Then, covering him with her black cloak, she plunged a knife into his
heart and he died.
Marianna
threw his corpse at the feet of the bewildered sentries. Addressing the
countrymen she said,” As a citizen I have done for my country all I could; as a
Mother I remain with my son.” With a firm hand she plunged the knife into her
own breast and died.
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