Mother as a Symbol

• • Mother is the main computer system on the ship, and initially wakes the crew from hypersleep at the start of the film, initiating the central conflict.
• It represents human ingenuity, technology and familial care all at once.
• • Mother can be seen as a symbol for the corporation's influence on technology and its favouring of scientific progress over humanity.
  • It leads the crew astray and is specifically programmed NOT to help them conquer the Alien.
  • Its main function is information exchange. So it's a symbol of the limitations of technology, and its inability to prioritize human interest.
• • With such a nickname, it's also interpreted as a symbol for motherhood and maternal energy.
  • The system is nurturing and authoritative, offering answers and instructions in a calming and feminine voice.
  • The crew put their trust in Mother in a familial way.
  • So, Mother can be seen as a symbol for both technology and maternity.