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{{Infobox Individual|
{{Infobox Individual
individual name= Old Mother |
|image       = Old Mother.jpg
image= [[file:Old Mother.jpg|250px]]|
|species     = Human
alias=|
|affiliation = Tribe of Gum
species= [[Human]] |
|origin      = [[Earth]]
home planet= [[Earth]] |
|child      = Za
home era= [[BC#Prehistory|100,000 BC]]|
|partner    = The Firemaker{{!}}Gor
appearances= [[DW]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child]]''|
|first      = An Unearthly Child (TV story)
actor= [[Eileen Way]] |}}
|appearances = {{il|[[PROSE]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (short story)|An Unearthly Child]]''}}
|actor       = Eileen Way
}}
'''Old Mother''', better known as the '''old woman''', was a member of the [[Tribe of Gum]].


'''Old Mother''' was the mother of [[Za]], leader of the [[Tribe of Gum]].
== Biography ==
=== Early life ===
The old woman was the [[mate]] of [[the Firemaker|Gor]] and mother of [[Za]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child (novelisation)|Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child]]'') She claimed to have never seen Gor make [[fire]] and was of the belief that the tribe should live without it, saying that fire would kill them all in the end. When Gor died, she believed that his death was divine punishment and she feared her son's quest to reclaim the secret. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')


==Biography==
=== The strangers and death ===
After Za's father was killed while hunting before he could pass the secret of making [[fire]] on to Za, Old Mother became convinced his death was divine punishment for using fire, and feared Za's quest to reclaim the secret would bring disaster on the tribe.
The outsider [[Kal]] brought the [[First Doctor]], whom he claimed he had seen making fire, to the tribe. The old woman knew her son would try to wrest the secret from this stranger and his young [[companion]]s, provoking the wrath of [[Orb (An Unearthly Child)|Orb]]. After Za ordered the strangers imprisoned in the [[Cave of Skulls]], the old woman waited until the tribe slept and sneaked away to the cave. She took a stone knife with her. She crawled through a secret entrance into the cave, cut the strangers' bonds and told them to flee into the forest.


When the outsider [[Kal]] brought an [[First Doctor|old man]] to the tribe whom he claimed he had seen making fire, Old Mother knew her son would try to wrest the secret from this stranger and his young companions, provoking the wrath of [[Orb]]. After Za ordered the strangers imprisoned in the Cave of Skulls, Old Mother waited until the tribe slept and snuck away to the cave, taking a stone knife with her. Using a secret entrance, she crawled into the cave and cut the strangers's bonds, telling them to flee into the forest.
Za was furious with her for having set them free, but he had no time to deal with her. Za shoved her to the ground and knocked her unconscious, then left with his mate, [[Hur]], to pursue the strangers. When the old woman awoke, she found herself facing Kal, who was even angrier at what she had done. Kal had hoped to wrest the secret of fire from the strangers and use it to usurp Za's position as leader. The old woman had cheated him of that opportunity. He killed the old woman with a stone. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')


Za was furious with his mother for having set the strangers free, but he had no time to deal with her. Shoving her to the ground and knocking her unconscious, Za left with his mate [[Hur]] to pursue the strangers. When Old Mother awoke, she found herself facing [[Kal]], who was even angrier at what she had done. Kal had hoped to wrest the secret of fire from the strangers and use it to usurp Za's position as leader, and Old Mother had cheated him of that opportunity. Using a stone, he killed the old woman.
== Personality ==
The old woman was fearful of [[fire]] and was willing to disobey [[Za]]'s orders to keep the secret from him. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')


Later, after being brought back to the tribe, [[the Doctor]] was able to convince the tribe that it was Kal who killed Old Mother, and that such a man could not be trusted as leader or even as one of the tribe. Kal was driven out into the wilderness. The Doctor and his [[companion]]s were reimprisoned in the Cave of Skulls, this time with the secret entrance blocked and Old Mother's bloody corpse for company. Doubtless, the cadaver's presence added extra impetus for the final escape from the cave and this era which the [[time travel]]lers were eventually able to affect.
== Appearance ==
The old woman was skeletal and grey-haired. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child (novelisation)|Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child]]'')


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==
*The Old Mother was the first character to die in the original series.
Though her actions were mainly done out of fear rather than friendship, Old Mother may be considered to be the first ally to the Doctor and their companions.
{{Season 1 aliens}}
 
[[Category:human leaders]]
Tragically, she was also the first character to die in ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
[[Category:humans with unknown names]]
 
[[Category:Human leaders]]
[[Category:Humans with unknown names]]
[[Category:Distant past individuals]]
[[Category:Members of the Tribe of Gum]]
[[Category:Human biological mothers]]

Latest revision as of 09:35, 14 August 2023

Old Mother, better known as the old woman, was a member of the Tribe of Gum.

Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]

Early life[[edit] | [edit source]]

The old woman was the mate of Gor and mother of Za. (PROSE: Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child) She claimed to have never seen Gor make fire and was of the belief that the tribe should live without it, saying that fire would kill them all in the end. When Gor died, she believed that his death was divine punishment and she feared her son's quest to reclaim the secret. (TV: An Unearthly Child)

The strangers and death[[edit] | [edit source]]

The outsider Kal brought the First Doctor, whom he claimed he had seen making fire, to the tribe. The old woman knew her son would try to wrest the secret from this stranger and his young companions, provoking the wrath of Orb. After Za ordered the strangers imprisoned in the Cave of Skulls, the old woman waited until the tribe slept and sneaked away to the cave. She took a stone knife with her. She crawled through a secret entrance into the cave, cut the strangers' bonds and told them to flee into the forest.

Za was furious with her for having set them free, but he had no time to deal with her. Za shoved her to the ground and knocked her unconscious, then left with his mate, Hur, to pursue the strangers. When the old woman awoke, she found herself facing Kal, who was even angrier at what she had done. Kal had hoped to wrest the secret of fire from the strangers and use it to usurp Za's position as leader. The old woman had cheated him of that opportunity. He killed the old woman with a stone. (TV: An Unearthly Child)

Personality[[edit] | [edit source]]

The old woman was fearful of fire and was willing to disobey Za's orders to keep the secret from him. (TV: An Unearthly Child)

Appearance[[edit] | [edit source]]

The old woman was skeletal and grey-haired. (PROSE: Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child)

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Though her actions were mainly done out of fear rather than friendship, Old Mother may be considered to be the first ally to the Doctor and their companions.

Tragically, she was also the first character to die in Doctor Who.

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