Joining Together The Broken Mirror

The Diary of a Good Neighbor, altogether with If the Old could…constitutes thewhole novel of The Diary of Jane Somers, which is an important work written byDoris Lessing in her later literary career. In this novel, Lessing transforms her writingstyle and actively probes deep into the unpredictable nature of humanity and thesocial relationship of people. The strong and affecting novel of The Diary of a JaneSomers based on the experience of the author is rich in love. Meanwhile, it traces therelationship between Jane Somers, a successful magazine editor, and the old womanMaudie Fawler. This thesis focuses on the Jane’s psychological development andtransformation by the application of Lacanian psychoanalysis, with the purpose to freethe heroine Jane Somers from the long-formed assentation of being a feminist, whichis also considered to be Lessing’s label.According to Lacanian theory, human psyche can be divided into progressivelythree stages, the imaginary, the symbolic and the real. In The Diary of Jane Somers,Jane’s psychological development goes through these stages. Firstly, Jane appears onthe imaginary stage to be a resplendent and shining woman in the world of wondersand successes. With her successful career and self-independent life style, Jane’snarcissism is at its top in the world speculated from the mirror-her imaginary world.However, the unexpected death of her husband and mother deprives her of the perfectimages and throws her into the symbolic stage, where she realizes the imperfection inher life. Despite of the social norms and the cruel realit, Jane makes a great effort tomaintain her formerly built narcissistic image, which is actually illusive andself-deceiving. However, all the effort made by Jane is for the same purpose-the Real.Despite of the impossibility of achieving the wholeness in the Real, Jane strives hardto maintain her integrity and perfection.The thesis is divided into three chapters. According to Lacan’s psychoanalytictheories, there are three stages in the psychological process, respectively Imaginarystage, Symbolic and the Real. Besides, the application of narcissism and Ego theory are supportive to the explanation of mirror stage and the meaning of the Other is tospecify the symbolic stage. Chapter one centers on the psychoanalysis of the characterJane at the imaginary stage. During this stage, Jane developes a perfect image thatfully interprets her narcissism and ideal Ego. Chapter Two focuses on the rupture andfragmentation of Jane’s narcissistic image, as well as her new challenge of facing thereality. It is at the symbolic stage when Jane begins to accept the social norms andjudges herself in a more sensible way. What is more, at the symbolic stage, Janebegins to build her own identity which is based on the desire of the Other. ChapterThree directs at Jane’s search for integrity and wholeness in her life. Through all thebreakdown, distaste, fear and separation, Jane gradually changes her attitude towardslife and the society, and she gradually escapes from the cage of her imaginary worldand adopts the path leading to the Real. However, according to Lacan, the Real cannever be reached except the moment of birth and death. Thus, despite her incessanteffort to search for the Real, the world of Real can never be achieved. This againpushes Jane into a dilemma and another circle of the three stages, which symbolizesthe spiral of the life process leading to the Real.