"Mother as a symbol of Russia’s values": why the figure of the mother is once again at the centre of literary attention

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The image of the mother is one of the most revered themes in Russian literature and embodies family values, traditions and moral principles. The theme of love for one’s mother has been reflected in many classic works, including those by Maxim Gorky, Chingiz Aitmatov, Sergei Yesenin, and Alexander Tvardovsky. All these topics were discussed on Mother’s Day, which is celebrated in Russia on 30 November. The holiday became the central theme of the meeting of the Literary Club "What to Read?!" at the National Centre RUSSIA.

"In Russia, the image of the mother and the image of the country are closely intertwined. It is no coincidence that one of the main symbols of the nation is the Motherland monument. The sculpture on Mamayev Kurgan in Volgograd is a vivid example of how visual representations of the mother reflect society’s attitude to the family, to values and to the state as a whole. This shows that in Russian culture the mother is not only the keeper of the home but also a symbol of national identity and moral and spiritual orientation," said the Head of the Academic Council of the Centre for Political Conjuncture, Professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, and author of the Telegram channel Chesnakov.Library, Alexei Chesnakov.

According to him, in Russian literature, fairy tales and classical works, the image of the mother occupies a central place and is one of the fundamental elements of the cultural code, through which ideas about morality, social responsibility and the values of the state are expressed. Russian literature creates a space of meanings and shapes the ideology of our society, he added.

Marina Kim, First Deputy Chair of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications, emphasised that the traditional image of the mother is being revived in the modern media space. According to her, this is evident across all types of content — from blogs to television and series — and is rooted in deep cultural and historical traditions formed over many centuries.

"The origins of this image go back to ancient history — from the symbol of ‘Mother Earth’ to 19th-century literature, where the mother embodied moral and spiritual choice, symbolised the beginning of life and served as a moral guide. In Soviet literature and culture, the image of the mother retained a central role, expressing care, labour, and the upbringing of a new generation. However, since the 1990s, this image gradually lost its visible relevance, and public attention to it became limited. Only in recent years has the modern image of the mother begun to regenerate, and this process deserves particular attention," said Marina Kim.

She noted that it is important to speak truthfully about life, work, care and self-sacrifice that accompany motherhood. According to her, a woman comes into this world to bring life and happiness — to herself, her children and those around her — and the more happiness she creates, the more it returns to her.

"As part of the State Duma’s work, recommendations are being drafted on how the image of the mother should be portrayed in media content. This is important work — the development of standards for family and children’s content. The image of the mother plays a key role in this process. Experts, screenwriters, directors and producers provide feedback and discuss how this image ought to be portrayed. The main recommendation is to avoid both idealisation and marginalisation. There should be no idealised image of a mother who manages everything, looks flawless, has given birth to ten children and fully realised herself in her career — this does not exist. But marginalisation, when the mother is shown only through hardship and struggle, is also unacceptable," added Marina Kim.

Anastasia Gacheva, Head of the Department of Contemporary Russian Literature and Literature of the Russian Diaspora at the Institute of World Literature of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Chief Librarian and Researcher at Library No. 180 named after N. F. Fyodorov of Moscow’s State Budget Cultural Institution "Mosrazvitie", Doctor of Philology, agreed that the image of the mother in Russia has been shaped over several centuries.

"The image of Mother Earth, Mother Nature, the Virgin and the protector of humanity resonates with folk tradition and then enters literature, where the mother appears as the keeper of the home, the nurturer of children, the protector shielding them from the hardships of fate, yet at the same time ready to let them go into the world, understanding that a child is an independent individual," said Anastasia Gacheva.

The image of the mother holds a central place in Russian literature of the 19th and 20th centuries. As examples, Anastasia Gacheva cited the works of Ivan Turgenev, Ivan Goncharov, and Fyodor Dostoevsky. In these authors’ works, she noted, the mother appears as the guardian of peace and of human values. In the 20th century, the image of the mother is presented as a personality that goes beyond the maternal role alone, Gacheva added.

"A vivid example is Maxim Gorky’s novel 'Mother', where the Mother of God function of woman is preserved: the theme of sacrifice, heroic deeds for the sake of others, and archetypal motifs of the relationship between Christ and the Virgin are reflected in the characters. In Yesenin’s poetry, the image of the mother is also present — for instance, in his letter to his mother, where warmth and care are conveyed from heart to heart. In the second half of the 20th century, during the era of industrialisation and modernisation, literature began to incorporate ecological themes, contrasting industrial progress with the human bond to the land, and presenting the mother as the keeper of traditions, moral and spiritual values. Heroic images of mothers also appear in Chingiz Aitmatov’s story 'Mother’s Field', in Valentin Rasputin’s 'Farewell to Matyora' and in other works," she explained.

The Literary Club "What to Read?!" is an original project of the National Centre RUSSIA. It is a place for discussing literary heritage and exchanging ideas and experience. The meetings focus on thoughtful writing and the development of a reading culture. Detailed information about upcoming meetings of the Literary Club and other educational projects is available in the "Events" section of the official website of the National Centre RUSSIA at russia.ru.