Changing Age, Unchanged Tradition——Interpretation On Lessing’s View Towards Women

Doris Lessing is one of the most prominent female writers in the twentieth century. She shows the readers a vivid picture of women’s life with her penetrating insight, profound consideration and exquisite writing. However, whether Lessing is a feminist or not remains a controversial topic. Many feminists regard Lessing’s works as classic feminist’s works, while others think Lessing has no relationship with feminism. Lessing herself also denies her feminist identity.In order to have a further discussion about the above question, three of Lessing’s works are necessary to contemplate. The Golden Notebook was published in1962, during the later period of the first feminist movement; The Summer before the Dark was published in1973, during the early times of the second feminist movement and The Diaries of Jane Somers (including "The Diary of a Good Neighbor" and "If the Old Could...") was published in1984, during the later period of the second feminist movement. The heroines belong to intellectuals, housewives and workaholics respectively. Anna and Molly are representatives of free intellectual women in1950s and1960s; Kate is the representative of housewives who got rid of family and entered into society in1970s; Jane is the representative of career women who focused on the pursuit of individual values in1980s.This thesis focuses on Lessing’s description of sufferings and dilemmas faced by free women in different times and environments and their final choices arranged by Lessing. The analysis will be based on feminist criticism and the background of the development of western feminist movements and main thoughts. All of the heroines return to marriage and family, and find real happiness in the experience of women’s traditional roles. It reflects Lessing’s consideration and affirmation to the importance of women’s traditional roles which are important not only to women’s self identity and life, but also to the harmony of the whole world. Having experienced two waves of feminist movement, Lessing’s works embody the feature of the times. At the same time, the three novels with eleven years interval between each other similarly show Lessing’s recognition to women’s traditional identity. Therefore, it is not right to simplify Lessing as a feminist.