Perspectives

Literary period

Published in 1993, the short story fits the literary movement we call Postmodernism, which defines most literature published since the 1960s. Postmodernist works can be recognised through themes, context, and narrative techniques. In “Mother of the City” by Christopher Fowler, we notice that the author explores the theme of not fitting in. This theme is often explored in postmodern works, as they often focus on exploring how people are influenced and shaped by their circumstances.

In terms of postmodernist narrative techniques, “Mother of the City” uses an unreliable narrator and focuses on the description of the events but does not express a clear message or draw a final conclusion.

Another feature which is typical for postmodernist literary w...