Why Does Mother Courage Refuse to Marry the Cook?
Mother Courage and Her Children is a notable literary work by Bertolt Brecht. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of Mother Courage and Her Children.
Answer
Why does Mother Courage refuse to marry the Cook?
Bertolt Brecht’s (1898-1956) drama “Mother Courage and Her Children,” written during the rise of World War II in 1939, revolves around the character of Mother Courage. Mother Courage refuses to marry the Cook because of her sense of responsibility as a mother.
The Cook’s Conditional Offer: The Cook offers Mother Courage a chance to leave behind her difficult life of wandering with the army with her wagon and selling goods. He suggests they could settle down and live a more stable life. The Cook invites Mother Courage to run an inn with him. However, the Cook quietly tells Mother Courage that Kattrin can’t come—there’s no space for her at the inn. This shows the Cook’s lack of empathy and highlights his love is conditional.
Duty Versus Desire: Mother Courage is faced with a difficult decision. Although she longs for stability and escapes from the hardships of war, her sense of responsibility as a mother prevents her from abandoning Kattrin. She cannot leave her daughter behind, especially when Kattrin is vulnerable and needs her the most.
When the cook proposes to Mother Courage, Kattrin secretly hears everything. Kattrin tries to run away from her mother. However, Mother Courage assures Kattrin she will never abandon her. Mother Courage says:
Kattrin! Where o you think you’re going?… I told him:… he can have his lousy inn.
Mother Courage’s refusal also reflects her distrust of Cook’s intentions. She knows that his interest in her is not genuine. The cook’s offer is primarily motivated by his convenience and self-interest.
In essence, despite being tempted by the idea of running an inn, Mother Courage refuses the offer. Mother Courage’s decision reveals her deep maternal instincts and sense of duty.