Martha Quest: A Woman Pursuing Freedom

Doris Lessing is one of the most important writers in contemporary England. She is named the great feminism writer after Woolf. Her works are full of various styles and win many prizes for literature in European countries. In 2007, she won the Nobel Prize for Literature. The critics consider her masterpiece, The Golden Notebook as a"bible"for feminism. Most of her works reveal women's depression, anxiety, frustration and struggle in real life. From her heroines'experiences, we feel her view on women's pursuing freedom.The thesis analyzes Martha who pursues freedom in Martha Quest. We can see she meets many difficulties in the course of pursuing freedom, and she has an unconquerable spirit."Quest"means"search and pursuit". Martha Quest's life is full of search and pursuit just like her name. Martha feels her living circumstance results in her misery. But she has great courage to face the fate. She regards everything she experiences is a turning point to her life. So she puts high spirits in everything, and never compromise in the face of failure. Women do not want to be ruled in a social pattern. They show their thoughts clearly by actions. The deeds of women's searching for freedom cause disorder in the patriarchal society. So they will go through all kinds of hardships and difficulties in the process of struggle.The thesis is made up of four parts. Introduction introduces Lessing's life and Martha's experiences; feminism theory and Jungian. Chapter One introduces Martha's dilemma in life, which stimulates her to pursue freedom. Chapter Two introduces Martha's pursuing freedom through political struggle. At that time people hold racial discrimination, but Martha refuses the concept. She attends Left Book Club to accept new ideas. Chapter Three introduces Martha's pursuing freedom through spiritual struggle. She wants to live an ideal collective life, and she attends Sports Club. She wishes to unite with nature. She wants a real man to bring her love. Chapter Four introduces Martha's pursuing freedom in education and employment. In Conclusion, the true freedom lies in the harmonious relationship between men and women in the society. Martha meets much frustration on the way to freedom, but she will never give up her goal no matter how changes the life has. From Martha we learn a true person who loves life never loses the confidence even though one has failed in pursuing freedom. The meaning of freedom is understanding and surpassing.