When Angel And Devil Meet

Doris Lessing is one of the most distinguished and influential figures in the contemporary British literary arena. During her writing career that spans over half a century, she brings readers numerous works featuring rich subject matters, varied styles and profound thought and also earns an extensive reputation for herself. In2007, Lessing at the age of88was awarded the long-awaited Nobel Prize in Literature which honored her as "that epicist of the female experience, who with skepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilization to scrutiny"(Nobelprize.org). However, her glory doesn’t merely lie in her concern for the fate of women. Actually being pigeonholed as a feminist writer is an annoying title that Lessing wants to cast off at all times. Her prominence more rests with the tireless humanistic pursuit from her broad and sensitive heart.The Good Terrorist, contrary to what is hinted by the title, is not a novel about the origin and analysis of terrorism, but a mirror of social reality. It probes into how a group of aimless and radical young people under the influence of political and ideological Utopia appeal to violence to give vent to their psychological problems, and accordingly reflects Lessing’s concern and anxiety about social morality. This thesis mainly analyzes the multiple personality of the protagonist Alice and its causes by means of Jungian concepts of persona and shadow, so as to better appreciate the writer’s creation motive and change in thought. Alice, on the one hand, plays the role of a kind-hearted and sympathetic mother, while on the other acts as an irritable and obstinate person with destructive power. These two kinds of conflicting personalities make Alice only an unloved child. From Alice, readers can feel the projection of the early life experience and thought of Lessing. Moreover, the evaluation of Alice represents Lessing’s examination of her former self and her worry for the contemporary British young people. This thesis, based on textual analysis, intends to give a different interpretation to this often-unnoticed work through a comprehensive understanding of Alice’s contradictory personalities, thus demonstrating that Lessing is a humanistic writer and that this work is of far-reaching significance to the modern society.