Why does Mother Courage refuse to marry the Cook NU Bertolt Brecht s Mother Courage and Her Children shows how war destroys love family and dreams The Cook offers marriage to Mother Courage But she refuses Her decision is shaped by her children her wagon and her endless trade She Cannot Abandon Kattrin The Cook tells Mother Courage he can give her food and shelter but only if she leaves Kattrin behind Mother Courage refuses because she loves her daughter Kattrin is mute and scarred but still her child She says she cannot throw away her own blood In the story this shows her conflict she is a tradeswoman but also a mother She Cannot Leave the Wagon The Cook wants to settle in Utrecht far from war But Mother Courage has her wagon full of goods The wagon is her life Earlier she sang Here s Mother Courage and