The Revolt Of Mother

Often perceived as an early feminist work, “The Revolt of ‘Mother’” is more complicated than it appears at first glance. This story focuses not just on Sarah Penn’s attitudes but Adoniram’s as well. Both characters are first introduced not by their names but as “Mother” and “Father,” stressing not their personal identities but their roles within society. They are both capable people within their respective domains, and Sarah’s duties actively support Adoniram’s on a daily basis; in this, they are a team.

By the end of the story, however, Adoniram’s role is challenged by Sarah. Instead of simply acquiescing to his will, she stands up and takes what she believes is owed her. In the face of this unexpected will, Adoniram is unable to retain the position of power to which he was accustomed. His tears at the end may signify an embrace of feminine values and expressions of emotion. On the other hand, it may convey nostalgia, sorrow, and regret that the façade of power he previously enjoyed was redistributed in his absence. Thus, “The Revolt of ‘Mother’” is a narrative that does not simply relate the change in Sarah’s status but also the change in Adoniram’s; it reconstructs a power dynamic that always came out in the latter’s favor.

The story actually subverts both male and female gender roles while turning an unbalanced hierarchy into a more egalitarian one where woman’s desires and needs are taken into equal consideration. But the true complexity comes from the fact that neither character is incompetent, and the rebellion in question is a quiet, passive one. After all, Sarah’s overriding objective when she takes over the barn is to achieve an objectively domestic goal: having Nanny’s wedding in a nicer location and being able to keep her nearby. Also, Adoniram’s comeuppance does not seem fully deserved, as he is neither an outright villain nor a domineering master.  

At its core, this story is about the power of women. In many ways, they are repressed because they do not have legal standing and are forced to be submissive to their husbands. “The Revolt of ‘Mother’” focuses on this and the ways one woman gets around it.

One interesting aspect of this story is that, despite her outward submission, Sarah always exercises a specific type of authority and autonomy. For example, she runs her home with energy and skill; she is “like a queen” (66). While Adoniram manages the farm, Sarah is clearly in charge within the house. She has a voice and no qualms about saying what she thinks. When she tells him to, Adoniram sits down and listens as she declares her displeasure and reasons to his face.

Sarah’s strength is also evident in the way her children come to her side when she confronts Adoniram during the climax. There is little question who rules the family as the story ends: “Adoniram was like a fortress whose walls had no active resistance, and went down the instant the right besieging tools were used” (166). Like many families at this time, men dominated the homesteads, but it was their wives and daughters who truly kept things running and were as hardy and able as any of the hired workers.