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Emotional Impact of Abortion Explored in Gwendolyn Brooks’ “The Mother” Poem Essay

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Introduction

The poem “The Mother,” by Gwendolyn Brooks, uses one of society’s most controversial topics of abortion, diving headfirst into its long-term impact on both mother and child alike. With complete mastery over expressive language and vivid imagery, Brooks presents an emotional claim that leaves readers deep in thought afterward. The poem uncovers the far-reaching emotional consequences of abortion with unshakeable emotional baggage supported through vivid imagery, repetition, and introspective reflections from the speaker, all conveying a sense of profound guilt and loss.

The Use of Vivid Imagery

Gwendolyn Brooks uses vivid imagery to bolster her claim within her poetry. As she paints an emotional portrait of unborn children, she accentuates their physical attributes and their mark on their mother’s life. For example, Brooks refers to them as “small damp pulps with little or no hair” (Baldwin, 2022). Using such language to evoke sensations that reveal fragility and innocence creates tangible impressions within one’s mind about the unborn. By depicting these traits in this manner, it is possible to appreciate just how present these beings were for mothers-to-be, even if only within recollection due to loss before birth.

Repetition and Introspective Reflections

The use of repetition and introspective contemplation is another powerful tool utilized by Brooks in support of her argument. In particular, by repeating, “Believe me. I loved you all,” she highlights just how deeply this mother cared for her unborn children despite resorting to abortion (Baldwin, 2022). This gives weight to Brooks’ assertion that maternal love endures even under challenging circumstances. It provides insight into the speaker’s internal turmoil, grappling with regret, and displaying profound attachment towards what could have been.

Irony

Situational irony is the third technique she uses in support of her argument. The speaker’s tone throughout the poem mixes love and remorse as she addresses unborn children while acknowledging their existence and her own choices. The irony arises from this situation since although she professes love and remorse for these unborn babies; they have already lost any opportunity to live a whole life due to being aborted (Baldwin, 2022).

The speaker even acknowledges how unfortunate this is by stating: “You were born, you had a body, and you died.” These unborn babies never experienced more than that crooked chain of events between conception and procedure (Gill, 2019). Brooks effectively highlights through this technique how sad an abortion can be by denying potential life experiences for those who never got a chance.

Hyperbole

In the poem, the poet uses exaggeration too strategically to convey powerful feelings of devastation and loss experienced by the narrator. From its opening line, “Abortions will not let you forget,” this hyperbolic statement elevates emotions around past events that continue to affect her profoundly. What follows is an agonized confession filled with phrases like “You will never leave them.” illustrating just how long-lasting the trauma associated with these experiences has been for the protagonist (Fogarty, 2020). The poem creates a profoundly moving experience for readers that showcases the piercing ache of how profound loss can be.

Conclusion

A sensitive exploration into what happens emotionally when women make difficult choices around abortion awaits those who read Gwendolyn Brooks’ stirring poem, “The Mother.” She shares her perspective on how mothers inevitably face deep sorrow and regret after these procedures through her astute use of compelling imagery, introspective reflection, repetition, and irony. The reader sees how these heavy emotional burdens continue weighing on women long after the physical recovery. Brooks’ poignant words provide an insightful perspective on a topic that deserves more understanding and compassion.

In modern-day society, “The Mother” remains a poignant piece because it addresses the emotional implications of getting an abortion – something that is all too commonly ignored. Discussions regarding reproduction rights should not overlook or marginalize the variegated experiences people encounter during their decision-making process. This poem serves as a call for recognition about how making such a choice can result in enduring psychological weight or mourning – urging for kindness toward those affected.

References

Baldwin, E. (2022). . Poem Analysis. Web.

Fogarty, W. (2020). ‘You know all them things’: Nostalgia, idealization, and speech in working-class poems by Seamus Heaney, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Lucille Clifton. Journal of Working-Class Studies, 5(3), 8–21. Web.

Gill. (2019). . Humanities, 8(4), 167. Web.

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IvyPanda. (2024, December 19). Emotional Impact of Abortion Explored in Gwendolyn Brooks’ “The Mother” Poem. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emotional-impact-of-abortion-explored-in-gwendolyn-brooks-the-mother-poem/

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"Emotional Impact of Abortion Explored in Gwendolyn Brooks’ “The Mother” Poem." IvyPanda, 19 Dec. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/emotional-impact-of-abortion-explored-in-gwendolyn-brooks-the-mother-poem/.

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IvyPanda. (2024) 'Emotional Impact of Abortion Explored in Gwendolyn Brooks’ “The Mother” Poem'. 19 December. (Accessed: 28 May 2025).

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IvyPanda. 2024. "Emotional Impact of Abortion Explored in Gwendolyn Brooks’ “The Mother” Poem." December 19, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emotional-impact-of-abortion-explored-in-gwendolyn-brooks-the-mother-poem/.

1. IvyPanda. "Emotional Impact of Abortion Explored in Gwendolyn Brooks’ “The Mother” Poem." December 19, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emotional-impact-of-abortion-explored-in-gwendolyn-brooks-the-mother-poem/.


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IvyPanda. "Emotional Impact of Abortion Explored in Gwendolyn Brooks’ “The Mother” Poem." December 19, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/emotional-impact-of-abortion-explored-in-gwendolyn-brooks-the-mother-poem/.

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