A Study Of The Golden Notebook From The Perspective Of Myth-archetypal Criticism

The Golden Notebook is the masterpiece of Doris Lessing. This thesis explores the corresponding relations between The Golden Notebook and Western mythology from the perspective of myth-archetype. It explores the theme of the meaning of human life in the novel: the course of returning to the personality of the protagonist is virtually the course from resistance to reconciliation between the individual and others, between the individual and society. The novel expresses the idea that only when this reconciliation is reached can we obtain the value and meaning of life, and this reconciliation is crucial in solving the contradictions and conflicts in modern society. From this aspect, the novel is endowed with traits of modern mythology.Based on Frye's theory, this thesis analyzes the archetypal images, characters, and mythoi exhibited in The Golden Notebook. Firstly, it analyzes archetypal images of sea,water and pigeon recurring in the novel. Through the interpretation of archetypal images and their modern implications, it reveals the symbolic meaning of reconciliation between the individual and others. Secondly, through the analysis of the corresponding relations of main characters in the novel and in mythology, it demonstrates that Lessing views the reconciliation between the individual and society as an approach of self-redemption.Finally, it dwells on the archetypal mythoi in the novel. It points out that the mythoi in The Black Notebook and The Red Notebook are the mythos of tragedy and the mythos of satire and irony respectively put forward by Frye, which reflects human's resistance to the outside world under the mythological mythoi.It is in the light of archetypal criticism that we can draw such a conclusion: The various mythological archetypal images,characters,and mythoi not merely demonstrate Lessing's superb artistic creation and expression, but also heighten the profundity and readability of the novel. Lessing succeeds in combining the traditional and the modern, the myths and the realities, which contributes to the eternal charm of The Golden Notebook.