My Mother at Sixty Six Summary
“My Mother at Sixty-Six” is a poem by Kamala Das that explores the emotions of the speaker as she watches her mother, who is sixty-six years old, sleeping in the car beside her during a journey.
The poem highlights the speaker’s sense of mortality and the impermanence of life, as she reflects on her mother’s fragility and vulnerability, and the inevitability of her ageing and eventual death. She is struck by the contrast between her mother’s once vibrant and independent self and her current frailty and dependence on others.
The speaker also recalls memories of her childhood with her mother and the closeness they shared, and she feels a sense of sadness and longing for that time. She wonders if her mother is aware of her mortality and whether she too is reflecting on her life as she sleeps.
Throughout the poem, the speaker’s love and admiration for her mother are evident, and she expresses a desire to hold onto her mother’s hand and protect her from the inevitable passage of time.
Overall, “My Mother at Sixty-Six” is a poignant and emotional exploration of the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship and the challenges of facing ageing and mortality.
Also Check Lost Spring and The Last lesson.
Themes In My Mother At Sixty Six
The poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” by Kamala Das explores several themes related to the complex mother-daughter relationship and the experience of ageing and mortality. Some of the major themes of the poem include:
- Mortality and Impermanence: The poem explores the inevitability of ageing and death and the impermanence of life. The speaker reflects on her mother’s fragility and vulnerability and realizes that they both are mortal and will eventually face the end of life.
- Love and Attachment: The poem portrays a deep sense of love and attachment between the speaker and her mother. The speaker recalls her childhood memories and expresses a desire to hold onto her mother’s hand and protect her from the passage of time.
- Loss and Longing: The speaker feels a sense of loss and longing for the time when her mother was strong and independent. She reflects on the changes that ageing has brought to her mother and the relationship between them, and wishes she could go back to those days.
- Reflection and Self-awareness: The poem explores the theme of reflection and self-awareness as the speaker wonders if her mother is aware of her own mortality and reflects on her life as she sleeps.
- Acceptance: Despite the sadness and longing, the poem also suggests an acceptance of the inevitability of ageing and death. The speaker acknowledges that her mother’s ageing and eventual passing are a natural part of life, and she must come to terms with it.
Overall, the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” portrays the emotional complexities of the mother-daughter relationship, and explores the themes of mortality, love, loss, reflection, and acceptance.
Also Check Lost Spring and The Last lesson.
My Mother At Sixty Six Central Idea
The main idea of the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” is that life is short and we should cherish the moments we have with our loved ones, especially our parents. The poem is about a journey that the speaker takes with her elderly mother and as they travel, the speaker reflects on her mother’s ageing and vulnerability. The poem highlights the importance of the relationship between a mother and daughter and how it can evoke complex emotions, such as sadness and nostalgia, as we realize that our parents will not always be with us. Ultimately, the poem is about acceptance and appreciation for the precious moments we have with our loved ones.
My Mother At Sixty Six MCQ
Here are some possible multiple-choice questions (MCQs) on the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” by Kamala Das:
Q. What is the poem about?
- A) The relationship between a mother and daughter
- B) The experience of ageing and mortality
- C) The beauty of the countryside during a journey
- D) The challenges of modern life in a big city
Answer: B) The experience of ageing and mortality
Q. How old is the speaker’s mother in the poem?
- A) 66 years old
- B) 76 years old
- C) 86 years old
- D) 96 years old
Answer: A) 66 years old
Q. What emotion does the speaker feel as she watches her mother sleeping in the car?
- A) Happiness
- B) Sadness
- C) Anger
- D) Indifference
Answer: B) Sadness
Q. What does the speaker wish she could do for her mother?
- A) Take her to the best doctors in the city
- B) Make her younger again
- C) Hold her hand and protect her from the passage of time
- D) None of the above
Answer: C) Hold her hand and protect her from the passage of time
Q. What is the overall tone of the poem?
- A) Hopeful
- B) Joyful
- C) Melancholic
- D) Angry
Answer: C) Melancholic
Q. What does the speaker see as she looks out of the car window during the journey?
- A) A village with thatched houses
- B) A city with tall buildings
- C) A river with crystal-clear water
- D) A desert with sand dunes
Answer: A) A village with thatched houses
Q. What colour does the speaker use to describe her mother’s hair in the poem?
- A) Black
- B) Brown
- C) White
- D) Grey
Answer: D) Grey
Q. What childhood memory does the speaker recall in the poem?
- A) Going on a trip with her mother
- B) Playing games with her mother
- C) Watching TV with her mother
- D) Reading books with her mother
Answer: B) Playing games with her mother
Q. What does the speaker mean by the line “I am driving to the city, but my mind is elsewhere”?
- A) The speaker is not paying attention to the road
- B) The speaker is daydreaming about something else
- C) The speaker is lost and doesn’t know the way to the city
- D) The speaker is feeling disoriented and confused
Answer: B) The speaker is daydreaming about something else
Q. What is the central emotion of the poem?
- A) Happiness
- B) Sadness
- C) Anger
- D) Confusion
Answer: B) Sadness
Also Check Lost Spring and The Last lesson.