The Son of His Mother

"The Son of His Mother" by Clara Viebig is a story set in the early 1900s, centered around Paul and Käte Schlieben, a couple grappling with childlessness. It looks at the ideas of wanting to be a parent, love, and the divide between wanting to succeed in their careers and having a family. At the start, Paul, who works in business, and Käte, a painter, try to run away from their sadness by traveling, hoping it will put some excitement back into their lives, but their wish for a child continues. There's a short moment of happiness when Käte paints children, but their disappointment returns. This emotional buildup leads them to decide to adopt a child found in an isolated place, raising tricky ethical questions as they pursue parenthood.