Folks, you're probably not surprised that in a novel about World War II, war is a theme.
Mother Night is all about the aftermath of war: it's set fifteen years after the end of WWII. We don't get a lot of raw, bloody scenes of carnage, or anything like that. What we do get is a look at what set WWII apart from other wars. The technological advancement was like nothing ever seen before, there was a ton of espionage in conjunction with the unprecedented rise of the media and propaganda, and the psychological trauma of the whole thing was on a whole other level. It's no wonder our protagonist is so bothered by the whole thing.
Questions About Warfare
- What are the features of modern warfare?
- Which does the text view as more destructive: machinery and bombs, or propaganda? Explain.
- What, if any, justification is given for going to war in this text?
- According to the text, is there ever an appropriate time to celebrate war?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
There is no winning in war, because the cost is always too high.
There are no anti-war characters in this novel.