Sanity Vs. Madness

Doris Lessing (1919—present) is one of the most famous British writer. The publication of The Golden Notebook in 1962, due to the fiction's successful reflection of people's ethical and spiritual states in 1950s'British society, is considered as a masterpiece in contemporary English literature.At the beginning of its publication, the book was misunderstood as a feminism work for its support of woman right. The author was actually trying to explore and open out a person's inside world, to tell people how they should cope with outside world to harmonize their life and integrate personalities. Nowadays, The Golden Notebook is still being read all over the world, not only because of its artistic and cultural values, but also for its realistic contribution toward the modern society.The thesis clearly shows the central content of The Golden Notebook point by point. It enables readers to see how Lessing depicted Anna's complete image by practicing Rd Laing's psychological analyzing theory; pointed out the inducement which caused Anna's breakdown, discovered the whole process that how Anna divided herself into different selves and how she felt around effective ways to breakthrough the insanity and finally integrated her personality. The thesis appropriately corroborates the point that Lessing said in the preface of The Golden Notebook of 1971's new edition"…sometimes when people'crack up', it is a process of self-healing, through it people release pain and reduce mental split…"; it helps readers to understand and appreciate the artful work's realistic meaning and social value.