Whistler’s Mother
Whistler’s Mother is a tragic story that is set in the early 1800s St. Petersburg, Russia. James McNeill Whistler is a young boy working on his mother’s picture when the story opens. His mother Anna is worried about her second son Kirkie, a 4-year-old kid suffering from a malady which apparently could not be cured by doctors, and home remedies available. The story walks us through motherly love, witchcraft, magic and finally tragedy. The script is written in a creative way, but it lacked the intensity of every emotion and sentiment that this story stands for.
When doctors could not find the cure for Kirkie’s ailment and home remedies of Anna do not work, she is left with nothing but to pray. But Inga, a house servant in Anna’s house thinks of one more option which she thinks will surely cure whatever Kirkie is suffering from. Inga mentions the legendary power of a witch who goes by the name Baba Yaga. Being a Christian, Anna initially refuses to consult the witch whose work goes against Anna’s faith but gives in later given the situation of her beloved child. Inga with the help of her brother Anatoly arranges the transportation for Anna into the forest where Baba Yaga resides. The voice over of Inga is very thoughtful to build the suspense when Anna walks through the forest to discover Baba Yaga.
The gentleness and the calm stance of Baba Yaga are described in such a way that the fearsome character of the witch is more pronounced. Before even Anna completes to describe the situation of her dying son, Baba Yaga pulls out a necklace and deviously bends a link in it before giving it to Anna. In return, Baba Yaga expects the debt to be repaid at a later time. This instance of the mention of the debt being repaid is crucial in the story; it is well thought-out by the writer to complete the story. Kirkie who is already thought to be dead comes to life when Anna dons the necklace around Kirkie’s lifeless neck.
A few weeks later George, Anna’s husband who works with the railroads someplace far away is expected to come home and the household is getting ready for his arrival. In order to not get disapproved by his father for wearing a necklace, Kirkie yanks at the necklace and soon dies. Anna goes to Baba Yaga in anger. The wickedness and the horror of the Baba Yaga are revealed with the details of the dwelling and how she positions herself in it. After a war of words between Anna and Baba Yaga, Anna pierces Baba Yaga with a poker which sets her body to deflate like a balloon. The favor of saving Anna’s son sets into action with her death. We see Anna turning into the horrid creature that Baba Yaga was.
As the story will comes to an end the most artistic element of the story appears in the climax. James turns into a young man who tries to capture the essence of his possessed mother. The picture is complete when he feels that the blood of Anna could only add what the art lacks. He walks her mother out after releasing her from bonds and the story ends. The story captures the nature of James who takes care of his beloved mother; he knows the kind of pain she is going through after being possessed. The script flows through in a very lucid manner. The characters are established well, but a little detailing around the James could have helped the profoundness of this story. What lacks in the story is more detailed description of the scenes. Otherwise, it was a very interesting and creative storytelling.
