Analysis: Mother in a Refugee Camp

(Chinua Achebe)
Chinua Achebes Mother in a Refugee Camp, paints the pathetic picture of a
mother holding her dying son in her hands for the last time, portraying both
the inevitability of death and the pain of those whose loved ones have died
yet they live on in a harsh light.
The poem starts with the poet comparing the scene of a mother holding her
son in a refugee camp with the love and care which is usually depicted in all
versions of Mary holding a ding Jesus in her arms. The poet state that none of
the reputed depictions of tenderness could even come near the fragility and
beauty of this scene of pathos and heartbreak. This foreshadows that the son
in her arms is soon going to die, an idea which is confirmed by the third line
which says that after laying her son beneath the earth, the mother would
have to learn how to live life without him, and move on.
The next four lines describe the aura of disease, illness and death which
surrounds the camp; describing the smells of the camp, and the ribs of the
children protruding from sickness, painting a truly horrifying picture of sick
infants and helpless people. Then Achebe goes on to say how other mothers
no longer care, they can no longer cope with the struggle of surviving and
now only await death. However this mother, who was mentioned earlier, do
not fall into the same category. There is a remnant of a smile gracing her lips
and she remembers her son in all his glory as she holds him for the last time.
Her maternal pride had led her to clean him up before laying him to rest, and
now she takes out a comb and with singing eyes, she arranges her sons hair
which is rust, a sign that he suffers from kwashiorkor; a protein deficiency. The
relevant way in which she performs this act makes the poet reflect on how in
normal day to day life, such an act holds no consequence to any mother; they
do it before their sons leave for school. But the manner in which this mother
does it has such an air of finality to it that it is akin to laying flowers on a tiny
grave.
The poem is full of pathos and the agony of a mother who has to witness her
childs death in front of her eyes is made clear with the use of the initial
comparison to the Holy mother Mary and Jesus. The finality of death is evident
in this comparison even as the poet himself says that the tenderness of this
scene in reality far outshines any that is depicted in all the versions of
Madonna and Child. Then the strong imagery which is used to describe the
setting, the refugee camp, brings out the desolation surrounding the poem.
Achebe evokes the sense of smell, sight and feeling to such an extent that
tears spring to the readers eyes. The metaphor in the mothers humming
eyes makes one sympathize with her plight.
No reason is given as to why the people are in a refugee camp. Perhaps there
had been a war, or some sort of natural calamity, but Achebe has aptly
described how such drastically the lives of those change who are forced to
leave their home and take shelter, by focusing on one mother who is holding
her dying child. The poem could also act as a testament to a mothers love,
who knows that the child is dead, yet continues to hold him with care and
caution. She is not yet ready to let go and accept the fact that he is dead.

This poem touched the heart as it very delicately and subtly describes the
agony of losing a loved one - the most difficult of struggles that people face,
especially parents who have to see their young child die. It is a sad, emotional
and heart-breaking poem.