The Story of the Aged Mother PDF

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“The Story of the Aged Mother” by Matsuo Basho is a story in which a son and his mother’s pain in their battle against the decree of putting aged people to death. The story started long ago in Shinano there lived at the foot of the mountain a poor farmer with his aged mother. Their place was governed by despotic daimio who sent the decree of killing aged people in that place. That time, killing aged people was not common. When the poor farmer heard the decree he felt sorrow in his heart. But no one ever thought a second time about obeying the mandate of the gorvernor, so with many deep hopeless sighs, the farmer prepared for what at that time was considered the kindest mode of death. Just as his work ended, he took a quantity of unwhitened rice which is principal food for poor, cooked and dried it, tying it in a square cloth and tied it in his neck together with cool and sweet water. Then, with a heavy heart he carried his mother on his back and started walking towards the summit of Obatsayuma, the mountain of the “abandoning of aged”. On their way to the summit, the helpless mother noticed the dangerous path and thought that her son doesn't know the paths and might pass through danger so she reached for twigs, snapped them to pieces and quietly dropped them until they reached the summit. The poor farmer released his mother gathering of fallen pine needle, he created a comfortable cushion and tenderly lifting his old mother therein, he wrapped her with padded coat and with tearful eyes and aching heart said farewell. Before he left her, her mother bade goodbye and told him to be safe and that he shall follow the trails of twigs she left for him. The son’s heart was crushed as he was touched by his mother’s kindness. He then carried his mother back to Shinano and hid her in the walled closet beneath the kitchen floor. Time passed the son supplied her mother’s needs without anyone suspecting. The daimio on the other hand feeling confident about his power ordered another decree commanding the citizens of Shinano to make a Rope of Ashes. The village is faced with a terrible dilemma but the poor farmer’s mother came up with an idea. They must born a long line of twisted straw on a windless night. The poor farmer told the villagers what to do and with their success the daimio was pleased. He was told that it was the poor farmer’s mother idea. From then on the decree of executing of aged was lifted....