Old Mother: Difference between revisions

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|origin      = [[Earth]]
|origin      = [[Earth]]
|child      = Za
|child      = Za
|partner    = The Firemaker{{!}}Gor
|only        = An Unearthly Child (TV story)
|only        = An Unearthly Child (TV story)
|actor      = Eileen Way  
|actor      = Eileen Way  
}}
}}
'''Old Mother''' was an elderly member of the [[Tribe of Gum]] and the mother of [[Za]] who believed [[fire]] was too dangerous to possess. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child (novelisation)|Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child]]'')
'''Old Mother''', better known as the '''old woman''', was a member of the [[Tribe of Gum]].


After Za's [[The Firemaker|father]] was killed while hunting before he could pass the secret of making [[fire]] on, Old Mother became convinced his death was divine punishment for using fire. She feared Za's quest to reclaim the secret would bring disaster on the tribe.
== 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]]'')


The outsider [[Kal]] brought the [[First Doctor]], whom he claimed he had seen making fire, to the tribe. Old Mother 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]], Old Mother 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.
=== The strangers and death ===
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.


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 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. Old Mother had cheated him of that opportunity. He killed Old Mother with a stone. ([[TV]]: ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]'')
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]]'')
 
== 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]]'')


== Behind the scenes ==
== Behind the scenes ==
Old Mother was the first character to die in ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
Old Mother was the first character to die in ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
[[Category:Human leaders]]
[[Category:Human leaders]]
[[Category:Humans with unknown names]]
[[Category:Humans with unknown names]]

Revision as of 17:12, 14 November 2019

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

Biography

Early life

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

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

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)

Behind the scenes

Old Mother was the first character to die in Doctor Who.