Gender Performance In The Golden Notebook

The thesis aims at exploring Doris Lessing's The Golden Notebook under the theoretical framework of Judith Butler's gender performativity.Apart from Introduction and Conclusion,the thesis is composed of three main sections.It analyzes how the main characters perform their social roles prescribed by the gender norms of society.Free woman and traditional characters' performances under the rule of gender norms are the focus of this study.In specific,on basis of the theory of gender performativity,the thesis first analyzes the performances of traditional gender roles in the book and talks about how the characters are gendered by the power of gender norms.Then the thesis analyzes free woman's resistance of the gendered social roles with their defiant performances.At last the thesis discusses both the troubles brought by the gender norms and the resisting power generated by free woman's paradoxically resisting and conforming performances.In light of the theory of gender performativity,this thesis demonstrates that performativity is a way of existence in The Golden Notebook.For Doris Lessing,performing the prescribed social roles is simultaneously the acceptance of and the resistance against the gender norms.In a lot of cases,one is forced to perform the roles as required instead of following his/ her own heart.Performance,however,does not always mean compromise.It is highly probably that passive performance might turn out to be an effective means to realize one's true self.This is also the life meaning of the performing women in The Golden Notebook.