---
title: "Why the mother killed her son"
subject: "Communication English"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_5/communication_english:why-mother-kill-her-son"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/why-mother-kill-her-son
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Why the mother killed her son

Communication English · Chapter 2: Extensive Reading

- Asked in: 2070 Ashad, 5 marks; 2075 Chaitra, 5 marks (asked 2 times)
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/communication_english/why-mother-kill-her-son
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/communication_english/chapter-2

## Question

Why did the mother kill her son? [The mother of a traitor]

## Short answer

Monna Marianna killed her son because he had betrayed his native city and was leading the enemy against it. She believed the safety of the people outweighed one life, and only his death could stop the attack. Her act was a painful sacrifice of love for country and moral duty.

## Answer

In Maxim Gorky's "The Mother of a Traitor", the mother, Monna Marianna, killed her son because he had betrayed his native city and was leading its enemies against it.

#### Reasons
1. **Treason.** Her son had joined the enemy and was ready to destroy the city and kill its people. She could not accept that her son was the cause of such suffering.
2. **Duty to the people.** She believed that the safety of the whole city and the lives of many families were more important than the life of one man, even her son.
3. **Sense of responsibility.** As his mother she felt answerable for what he had become and for the harm he would do. She felt she must put right what she had helped to create.
4. **No other way.** He was the leader of the enemy force, and she did not think that pleas or arguments could stop him. Only his death would end the attack.
5. **Honour and dignity.** The townspeople scorned her as "the mother of a traitor". By killing him she freed herself and her family name from the disgrace of betrayal.
6. **Love turned to justice.** Her act was not hatred; it was a painful sacrifice. She loved him, but she loved her country and her people more.

Her action shows the theme of the story: devotion to one's country and moral duty may require the hardest sacrifice, even of one's own child.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What was the basic reason the mother killed her son?
   A. He insulted her
   B. He refused to marry
   C. He had betrayed his native city and led its enemies against it
   D. He had stolen from her
   Answer: C. Treason that would destroy the city drove her act. (Key point: Cause)

2. What belief about duty guided her?
   A. The safety of the whole city was more important than one man's life, even her son's
   B. Family honour was above the city
   C. Revenge on the townspeople was needed
   D. The enemy must be obeyed
   Answer: A. She placed duty to the people first. (Key point: Duty)

3. Why did she think killing him was the only option?
   A. The townspeople had forbidden talking
   B. She had no time to travel
   C. He led the enemy and pleas or arguments could not stop him
   D. She feared the enemy's soldiers
   Answer: C. Only his death would end the attack. (Key point: No other way)

4. How does the answer describe her act?
   A. A painful sacrifice, not hatred; she loved her country more
   B. An act of hatred and revenge
   C. A thoughtless impulse
   D. A crime for reward
   Answer: A. Love turned to justice: she loved him but loved her people more. (Key point: Nature of act)

## Related in Communication English

- [The Mother of a Traitor: Monna Marinna](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Amonna-marinna-ideal-citizen-mother) — Communication English, chapter 2, asked 2×
- [The Mother of a Traitor: "Is it she?"](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Ais-it-she-mother-of-traitor) — Communication English, chapter 2
- [The Mother of a Traitor: mother's dilemma](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Amother-of-a-traitor-dilemma) — Communication English, chapter 2, asked 2×
- [Lessons from The Mother of a Traitor](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Alessons-from-mother-of-a-traitor) — Communication English, chapter 2
- [Summary of The Mother of a Traitor](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Asummary-mother-of-a-traitor) — Communication English, chapter 2