In the Poem “The Mother,” the writer Gwendolyn Brooke speaks out on the highly debatable topic of abortion. The second poem, “Disabled” by Wilfred Owen, portrays different kinds of pain – physical and psychological trauma of a young man fighting for Britain in World War One. Both pieces express deep concern about the outlined issues which remain the most regretful decisions. The essay will discuss and compare the feelings and tones of each writer presented in their poems.
Both poems are centered on the influence of a decision which ultimately changed the lives of the protagonists. Brooks emphasizes the everlasting impact of abortion from the first line: “Abortions will not let you forget” (par. 1). The author creates a specific doomed tone due to the constant reminder of the haunting effect of the abortion. A similar pattern can be traced in Owen’s poem, where he points out a man’s impulsive decision to join the army: “He thought he’d better join. He wonders why. Someone had said he’d look a god in kilts” (par. 4). Through the use of the retrospective devices, the writer portrays how the future soldier regrets the life-changing choice (The Wilfred Owen Association par. 8). Both poems, although addressing different themes, have similar tones and evoke the same feelings.
Each character from the poems overcome their own challenges which cause similar feelings across both pieces. In “The Mother”, the protagonist feels guilt over abortion, as Brooks writes: “You remember the children you got that you did not get” (par. 1). A complex emotional decision and its depiction influence the further state of mind (Oxford Poetry Library par. 3). On the contrary, Owen’s protagonist reminisces about his young days, and what horrible events he had to go through, because of one decision: “In the old times, before he threw away his knees. Now he will never feel again…” (par. 2). The line explicitly emphasizes the most significant loss of the soldier’s life. The author distinctly describes the events which caused the loss of his legs, which became the biggest challenge of the soldier’s life (Borsay 506).
Nevertheless, the poems contain multiple correspondences; they are distinct in some aspects. The protagonists have entirely dissimilar personalities and the perception of the world. Owen’s soldier accuses everyone, but himself for the actions he is entirely responsible for: “Aye, that was it, to please the giddy jilts, he asked to join” (par. 4). The man feels undignified, ignored, and as if he is betrayed by the females. On the other hand, Brooks’ protagonist puts all the blame on herself for the abortion: “Though why should I whine, Whine that the crime was other than mine?” (par. 2). The protagonist fully admits her fault in such a consequental decision. Lestari confirms that the woman feels the immense impact of the decision she chose to make, despite the love for the children (3). Therefore, such a fundamental character difference entirely distinguishes the two poems.
Brooks and Owen’s poems possess multiple similarities; however, they are also different in certain aspects. Similar tones of regret and sadness unite the two pieces. Both authors write about the life-changing experiences of the protagonist that immensely influenced their further life. Despite the usage of some identical literary and emotional devices, the main characters are different in terms of their nature, which can be traced in the train of their thoughts. In conclusion, the two poems are excellent examples of the depiction of people’s harsh reality, reflecting on two of the most controversial topics: abortion and war.
Works Cited
Borsay, Anne. “Disability in British Poetry of the First World War.” Disability & Society, vol. 30, no. 4, 2015, pp. 499–512,
Brooks, Gwendolyn. “The Mother.” Poetry Foundation, 2016, Web.
Lestari, Heni. “Abortion as Seen on Gwendolyn Brook’s Poem ‘The Mother’.” Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences State Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga, 2016, Web.
Owen, Wilfred. “Disabled.” Poetry Foundation, 2019, Web.
Oxford Poetry Library. “The Mother: Gwendolyn Brooks [A Feminist Poem a Day].” Oxford Poetry Library, 2017, Web.
The Wilfred Owen Association. “Poetry Critique. Disabled.” Wilfred Owen, 2020. Web.