HELEN J. MILLAR
DORIS LESSING'S SHORT STORIES:
THE MALE'S POINT OF VIEW
In a previous article, "Doris Lessing's Short Stories: A Woman's Right
to Choose?",' attention was focussed on her female characters and their
reactions to the roles they played in society. To balance this study, this
article will look at the male characters in Lessing's short stories, and
especially their attitudes towards women.
Ellen Brooks, a critic of Lessing's fiction, has this to say in general
of her characters:
In Lessing's view,men and women do not really confront each other,
for they define each other according to vastly different needs, shaping
reality to fit the pattern of their desires. Women, depending on men
for their hapiness, deny their men's deficiencies. Men, in contrast,
do not spare their women, using them as sexual scapegoats and
viewing them as threatening, dominating mother figures, separating
them into categories of conventional wife or sexual playmate . . . both
men and women share in the violence of the modern world by playing
their opposing roles of oppressor and oppressed. 2
While this generalisation may be true of the male characters in The Go/den
Notebook, it is not accurate for all those men who appear in the short
stories. For their attitudes towards women depend on many factors; their
age, status and class, environment and the nature of the relationship.
The stories to be discussed in this article concern men in social situations which reflect on both their private and public relationships with
women. In "A Woman on a Roof" 3 Lessing explores the reactions of three
men to a woman with whom they essentially have no association. Although
the men share a similar social background, their behaviour is a result of their
personal opinions, beliefs and experiences. In "The Woman" 4 two older
men, sharing similar sentiments about women from their past, make sure
their presence is felt by the young waitress serving them. When she doesn't
show them the "respect" they think they deserve, whether for their age or
sex, the young girl is subjected to their snide comments. In "The Witness",
"The Habit of Loving" and "Flight" (all from The Habit of Loving collection) Lessing again shows older men in relationships with younger women.
In the final two stories, "The De Wets Come to Kloof Grange" 5 and "The
Story of a Non-Marrying Man", 6 the male characters are seen in conflict
not just with women, but with their environment and work, which can
have tragic effects on personal relationships.
Within the framework of "A Woman on a Roof" Lessing shows how
the attitudes and age of the three men mending the roof affect the way
they react to the woman they see sunbathing. Stanley, married for three
42
and Tom,
forty.five
of about
a man
months,
Harry,
a man
of about
forty-five
and Tom,
seven-sevenHarry,
between
standsbetween
months,stands
For him
felt.
deeply
the most
is most
woman
of the
teen. Stanley's
of the
woman
is the
deeply
felt. For
him
resentment
Stanley'sresentment
teen.
and
for wealth
She stands
to him.
she
allall
that
is unattainable
to him.
She stands
for wealth
and
is unattainable
that
represents
she represents
he
strain;while
physical
suffer
must
leisure;
totally
while
he he
must
suffer
physical strain; while he
while
totally
relaxing
sheisisrelaxing
leisure;she
or reads;
lies asleep
sheasleep
le conditions
labours
uncomfortable
conditions
she lies
or reads;
uncomfortab
excessively
laboursininexcessively
him.
tormenting
is
that
thing
very
the
she
worships
the
sun
and
heat,
the
very
thing
that
is
tormenting
him.
heat,
and
sun
the
she worships
because
for Stanley
hurtful
is especially
Her
men
is especially
hurtful
for Stanley
because
men
the
indifferencetotothe
Her indifference
from the
Her absence
his.absence
andHer
world
it
the
gap
between
her her
world
and his.
from the
between
gap
the
accentuates
it accentuates
put his
has
man
old
her
bet
"1
comment:
roof
his
bitter
comment:
"I bet her old man has put his
bitter
his
prompts
dayprompts
oneday
roof one
know
back,
his
behind
smiling
men,
two
foot
down"
(p.
68),
but
the
other
two
men,
smiling
behind
his
back,
know
other
the
but
foot down" (p. 68),
his view
woman
to include
that
attempt
to include
the the
woman
in hisinview
of his of his
attempt
Stanley's
merelyStanley's
ismerely
that itit is
to think
he likes
freedom:
woman's
working class
He
resents
thethe
woman's
freedom:
he likes
to think
resents
He
world.
classworld.
working
all men
After
place.
her
in
her
put in her place. After all men
who
that
is is
a man
who
cancan
put her
a man
there
somewherethere
that somewhere
women.
controlwomen.
should
should control
the situation
back
stand
Tom
can
stand
back
fromfrom
the situation
and and
can
meanwhile,
Harry,meanwhile,
andHarry,
Tom and
inas Tom's
Asasfar
involved.
not
become
so so
emotionally
involved.
As far
Tom's
inemotionally
become
themselves
letthemselves
not let
therefore,
is,
and
fantasy
of
realms
volvement
completely
in the
realms of fantasy and is, therefore,
in the
completely
goesit itisis
volvementgoes
and stamp
whistle
continually
relatively
He
does
notnot
continually
whistle
and stamp
at the at the
does
He
harmless.
relativelyharmless.
unattainable
as something
woman
does.
Although
he too
her asher
something
unattainable
too sees
he sees
Although
does.
Stanley
asStanley
womanas
from his
"He knew
of her:
conquest
he
about
hishis
conquest
of her:
"He knew
from his
about
daydream
preferstotodaydream
he prefers
would
she
Perhaps
friendly.
and
nightly
dreams
of
her
that
she
was
kind
and
friendly.
Perhaps
she
would
kind
nightly dreams of her that she was
carpets
"white
fitted
were
there
ask
him
down
to
her
flat"
(p.
70)
where
there
were
fitted
"white
carpets
where
70)
(p.
flat"
her
to
ask him down
his own
He knows
(p. 71).
leather
and
padded
white
leather
top"top"
(p. 71).
He knows
his own
white
padded
witha a
bedwith
and aabed
imaginative
his own
slips
limitations,
them
and,
therefore,
slips
into into
his own
imaginative
therefore,
and,
them
accepts
limitations,accepts
If Tom
world.
workaday
real
world away
realities
of of
hishis
real
workaday
world.
If Tom
realities
harsh
theharsh
fromthe
awayfrom
world
his lot.
accepts
and
facts
the
to
up
faces
then
is
absorbed
by
fantasy,
Harry
faces
up
to
the
facts
and
accepts
his
lot.
Harry
fantasy,
by
absorbed
then is
tolerantly"
"smiles
Harry
back",
When
"She's
on on
herher
back",
Harry
"smiles
tolerantly"
"She's
comments,
Stanleycomments,
When Stanley
and whistle,
shout
younger
while Tom
When
thethe
younger
menmen
shout
and whistle,
Harry Harry
When
snickers.
Tomsnickers.
while
of the
resentful
is
he
If
68).
(p.
them"
parodies
fun
of of
them"
(p. 68). If he is resentful of the
fun
"making
them,"making
parodiesthem,
the
sees
he
when
and
it
woman's
indifference
he
does
not
openly
show
it
and
when
he
sees
the
show
openly
not
does
he
woman's indifference
His resup.
to pack
situation
ofof
control
he he
commands
Stanley
to pack
up. His
resStanley
commands
control
out
gettingout
situationgetting
the ways
g of
understandin
traint
to to
hishis
age
andand
his his
ownown
understanding
of the
ways
age
due
probablydue
isprobably
traint is
the woman
see
notthe
others,
and
society.
He,He,
unlike
the the
others,
doesdoes
not see
woman
unlike
society.
inequalitiesinin
and inequalities
as
playmate".
playmate".
"sexual
kindofof"sexual
anykind
as any
Scholtz
men,
older
How
from
the
two
older
men,
HerrHerr
Scholtz
and and
two
the
from
too
heisistoo
differenthe
How different
be observed
continually
Captain
Woman",
who
"might
continually
be observed
ob- ob"might
who
Woman",
"The
Forsterinin"The
CaptainForster
with the
and successes
failures
serving
scene
of of
flirtations
andand
failures
and successes
with the
flirtations
scene
social
thesocial
servingthe
and
assess
to
it
with
familiarity
calm
authority
of
those
qualified
by
long
familiarity
with
it
to
assess
and
calm authority of those qualified by long
who
men
substance;
of
men
were:
make
judgements.
Men
of
weight,
they
were:
men
of
substance;
men
who
they
weight,
of
Men
make judgements.
the waitRosa,
story,
expected
(p.(p.
50).
The
"woman"
of this
story,
Rosa,
the waitof this
"woman"
The
50).
deference"
expecteddeference"
surely
them—
do with
ress,
eye,
will
have
little
to do
them—
"and"and
surely
to with
little
have
will
eye,
both
theyboth
whomthey
ress, whom
her "cruelty",
behaviour,
Rosa's
they
feel
aggrieved?"
Rosa's
behaviour,
her "cruelty",
aggrieved?"
feel
entitledtoto
wereentitled
they were
is strengthe
between
makes
resentful
and
thethe
relationship
between
the two
is two
strengrelationship
and
resentful
men
themen
makesthe
theysowere so
winewere
thethey
with
thened
ofof
this:
"When
sheshe
reappeared
with the
wine
reappeared
"When
this:
because
thenedbecause
it
foolish
aloud
saying
been
deep
they
might
have
been
saying
aloud
how how
foolish
it
have
might
they
fellowship
goodfellowship
ingood
deep in
a
for
even
spoiled,
be
to
was
to
allow
the
sound
companionship
of
men
to
be
spoiled,
even
for
a
men
of
was to allow the sound companionship
(p. 52).
of women"
week, on
silly
charm
of women"
(p. 52).
charm
silly
the
accountofofthe
onaccount
week,
43
Whatfollows
followsisisa a
little
game
designed
What
little
game
designed
by the
to weaken
Rosa'sRosa's
by men
the men
to weaken
harmlessself-confidence
self-confidence
and
unnecessarily.
harmless
and
hurthurt
her her
unnecessarily.
They They
are both
are"fatally
both "fatally
attracted"totoher,
her,yet
yet
she
chooses
attracted"
she
chooses
to flirt
not not
withwith
themthem
but with
handto flirt
but awith
a handsome young
youngman,
man,
"as
if she
were
taking
some
"as
if she
were
taking
a pleasure
in theincruelty"
(p. 51).(p. 51).
a pleasure
the cruelty"
In retaliation
retaliationthe
thetwo
twomen
men
talk
loudly
about
In
talk
loudly
about
their
youthful
gallantry.
The The
their
youthful
gallantry.
captainboasts
boastsofofhis
his
affair
long
captain
affair
of of
long
agoago
at that
same
hotel:hotel:
at that
same
'She was
wastall,
tall,very
veryslim,
slim,with
with
beautiful
'She
aa
beautiful
body—beautiful!
AndAnd
black
body—beautiful!
black
eyes,and
andbeautiful
beautiful
teeth'.
added
eyes,
teeth'.
HeHe
added
loudloud
and and
spitefully
towards
spitefully
towards
Rosa:'She
'Shewas
was
not
country
bumpkin
Rosa:
not
thethe
country
bumpkin
type,type,
not atnot
all.at
One
all.has
One has
sometaste'
taste'(p.
(p.
some
58).
58).
The jibe
jibeisisaimed
aimeddeliberately
deliberately
"the
The
at at
"the
plump
village
Rosa."
To match
the the
plump
village
Rosa."
To match
captain, Herr
HerrScholtz
Scholtzclaims:
claims:" "'Mine
'Mine
was
fair.
captain,
was
fair.
Tall
and
fair.
A lovely
girlgirl
..
Tall
and
fair.
A lovely
Mighthave
havebeen
beenan
an
English
" (p.
Might
English
girl'girl'
" (p.
59).59).
Rosa,
the Swiss
serving
girl, girl,
Rosa,
the Swiss
serving
however,parries
parries
the
attack
appearance
however,
the
attack
on on
herher
appearance
and nationality
well. Her
and nationality
well. Her
final
comment,"Perhaps
"Perhaps
lady
changed
final comment,
thethe
lady
changed
the colour
of herofhair
suitto suit
the colour
hertohair
what you
youboth
bothlike
likebest"
best"
what
(p.(p.
60),
gives
herher
thethe
finalfinal
victory.
60),
gives
victory.
Still Lessing
Lessinghas
has
shown
in this
vignette
Still
shown
in this
vignette
a situation
that demonstrates
a situation
that demonstrates
not so
somuch
muchan
an
inequality
not
inequality
between
menmen
and and
women,
but anbut
undermining
between
women,
an undermining
of the
thefemale
femalecharacter
character
of
byby
thethe
twotwo
male
characters.
Like the
on
male
characters.
Likewoman
the woman
on
the roof,
roof,Rosa
Rosaisis
made
to feel
at ease
the
made
to feel
ill atillease
and,and,
uncomfortable
because
of her of her
uncomfortable
because
lack of
ofattention
attentionand
and
casual
lack
casual
airair
towards
the the
two two
menmen
"who"who
expected
de- detowards
expected
ference."They
Theyuse
use
her
their
game
ference."
her
in in
their
game
of one-upmanship,
having
little care
of one-upmanship,
having
little care
or thought
thoughtfor
forher
her
feelings,
merely
or
feelings,
merely
because
she is
young,
attractive
and, ofand, of
because
she
is young,
attractive
course,aawoman.
woman.
Rosa,
course,
Rosa,
nevertheless,
risesrises
aboveabove
them, them,
laughing
at their at thei
nevertheless,
laughing
attempts"with
"witha afinal
the two
why the
final
two
swish
attempts
swish
of of
herher
dress".
OneOne
maymay
ask why
dress".
ask
gentlemenchose
chose
- do
gentlemen
to to
actact
thisthis
wayway
— do
they
do itdo
foritpleasure,
or is there
they
for pleasure,
or is athere a
real intention
intentiontoto
humiliate
real
humiliate
thethe
woman
because
she isshe
young
and free?
woman
because
is young
andHere,
free? Here,
perhaps,isisan
an
example
of "oppressor
perhaps,
example
of "oppressor
and and
oppressed"
(to use(to
Brooks's
oppressed"
use Brooks's
terms).Rosa
Rosaisis
not
seen
terms►.
not
seen
by by
the the
two two
menmen
as a as
woman,
but as but
a "sexual
playa woman,
as a "sexual
playmate"categorised
categorised
because
mate"
because
of her
social
position,
age and
of her
social
position,
ageoccupation.
and occupation.
In many
manyofofLessing's
Lessing's
short
stories
In
short
stories
young
women
are seen
in
young
women
are caught
seen caught
in
situationswith
with
men
much
older
situations
men
much
older
thanthan
themselves
— or is
it the
themselves
- or
is itmen
the who
menare
who are
caught? Mr
(The Habit
MrBrooke
Habit of Loving) is
caught?
Witness"
a pathetic
Brookeinin"The
pathetic
(The
is a
"The
Witness"
old man
manwho
whofalls
fallsfor
for
the
scatty
old
the
scatty
little
eighteen-year
old Marnie,
who comes
little
eighteen-year
old Marnie,
who comes
workin
inhis
hisoffice.
office.
Lessing
builds
to work
Lessing
builds
up up
thethe
reader's
sympathy
for him
reader's
sympathy
forinhim in
the opening
openingscenes
scenes
story.
He lives
the
of of
thethe
story.
He lives
alonealone
and fantasizes
about reand fantasizes
about receiving some
sometrace
traceofof
attention
from
ceiving
attention
from
hishis
workmates.
While
training
his dog,
workmates.
While
training
his dog,
alone in
inhis
hisrented
alone
room,
hehe
thinks:
rented
room,
thinks:
'It will
will make
makethem
themsitsitup
up
when
'It
when
I tell
them
he he
cancan
keep
perfectly
still still
I tell
them
keep
perfectly
for ten
tenminutes
minutesby
by
the
for
the
watch
thethe
office
gave
me when
I hadI worked
watch
office
gave
me when
had worked
for them
themtwenty
twentyyears.'
years.'
used
for
HeHe
used
to say
things
like that
himself
to say
things
like to
that
to himself
long after
afterhe
hehad
hadgiven
given
long
upup
trying
to attract
theirtheir
notice
(p. 101).
trying
to attract
notice
(p. 101).
The office
officemeans
meanseverything
everything
him
The
to to
him
in his
empty
lonely
life. He
in his
empty
lonely
life.doesn't
He doesn't
want
toretire
retirefor
forfinancial
financial
reasons
want to
reasons
butbut
Marnie's
appearance
in his in
lifehis
desMarnie's
appearance
life destroys everything
everythingfor
forhim.
him.
His
attempts
troys
His
attempts
to comfort
the the
girl when
she is
re-is reto comfort
girl when
she
primandedfor
forher
herinefficiency
inefficiency
cruelly
primanded
areare
cruelly
derided.
He isHe
accused
of being
a
derided.
is accused
of being
a
44
44
his picture
herpictures
shows
innocently
"dirty
hehe
shyly
and
innocently
shows
her his
ands and
and
shyly
when
man"when
oldman"
"dirty old
his job,
from
sed
dismis
is
hedismissed from his job,
when
room.
comes
when
he is
comes
humiliation
finalhumiliation
hisfinal
Andhis
room. And
emMarnie
and
boss
his
s
catche
he
se
after
service,
e, becauhe catches his boss and Marnie emservicbecause
years'
thirtyyears'
afterthirty
bracing.
bracing.
this—story man
old in
anman
Lessing
a sensitive
ofal
anofold
this in
story
ve portray
a sensitiportrayal
given
hasgiven
Lessinghas
becaus
suffers
ely
ultimat
as
is is
the
innocent
whowho
ultimately
suffers because he e he
nt victim
innocevictim
the
witness,hehe
thewitness,
as the
girl, oblivio
young
flighty
The
seen.
saw
have
seen.
The flighty young
girl, oblivious
to us to
have
shouldn't
heshouldn't
somethinghe
saw something
sense of
strong
a
is
There
.
pieces
in
world
age
and
feeling,
leaves
his
little
world
in
pieces.
There
is
a
strong
sense
of
little
age and feeling, leaves his
The
acute.
more
this
make
actions
's
Marnie
his
loneliness
in
the
story
and
Marnie's
actions
make
this
more
acute.
The
and
story
the
in
his loneliness
can
he
that
so
the stairs
of stairs
at the
final
Mr
Brooke
waits
at the
footfoot
of the
so that he can
waits
Brooke
Mr
where
scenewhere
final scene
the
so long"
for
worked
wave
the
people
he he
hadhad
worked
withwith
for so
long"
bringsbrings
the
people
the
"to
goodbye"to
wave goodbye
clearly
lence
benevo
ded
misgui
man's
old
young
andand
the the
old man's misguided benevolence clearly
heartlessness
girl'sheartlessness
younggirl's
s are- under
and motive
actions
ter whose
characwhose
into
is is
one
male
character
actions
and motives
are undermale
one
Here
focus.Here
into focus.
associates
he
the charac
bycharacters
od
stood
butbut
misunderstood
by
the
heters
associates
misundersto
reader
thereader
bythe
stoodby
irony.
sad
its
story
gives
with
gives
thethe
story
its sad irony.
that
thisthat
andititisisthis
with and
lance to
resembto
a close
bears
As
and
alone,
Mr Mr
Brooke
bears
a close
resemblance
Brooke
alone,
and
lonely
figurelonely
As aa figure
clearly
more
shows
that
story
a
",
Loving
of
George
Talbot
in
"The
Habit
of
Loving",
a
story
that
shows
more
clearly
George Talbot in "The Habit
e towards
attitud
an older
than
Lessing's
short
pieces
an older
man'sman's
attitude
towards
pieces
short
Lessing's
otherofof
anyother
than any
is
the
and
g
by Lessiri
llyLessing
love.
is is
treated
sympathetically
by
and the readerreader
is
sympathetica
treated
male
themale
Againthe
love. Again
ous,
consci
ing
becom
was
"He
life
given
hishis
emotional
life — "He was becoming conscious,
emotional
s into
insightinto
closeinsights
givenclose
felt. Bewhat
and he
exterio
suave
though,
between
that
suave
exterior
andr what
felt.he
Ben that
betwee
discrepancy
ofaadiscrepancy
though,of
a monl,
painfu
and
soft
and
n
neath
his
ribs
his
heart
had
become
swollen
and
soft
and
painful,
a
monswolle
e
becom
had
neath his ribs his heart
(p. 9).
had been"
he
what
to
enemy
strous
area
of
sympathy
playing
enemy
to
what
he
had
been"
(p.
9).
playing
thy
symØa
of
area
strous
no compenfindcompenhe can
which
love
George
aa
loss
of of
love
for for
which
he can
find no
loss
from
suffersfrom
Georgesuffers
to under"came
He
ever.
for
him
sation
after
the
"love
of
his
life"
leaves
him
for
ever.
He
"came
to
underleaves
sation after the "love of his life"
a heart
carry
could
person
a
that
meant
stand
that
the
phrase,
heart-ache,
meant
that
a
person
could
carry
a
heart
che,
heart-a
,
stand that the phrase
s.
month
case,
his
incase, months.
for,
night,
which
with
him,
day
andand
night,
for, in
his
day
him,
with
around
achedaround
which ached
of
re
pressu
the
of
e
becaus
Nearly
HeHe
would
wake
in the
because of the pressure of
the night,
in night,
wake
would
now.
yearnow.
Nearlyaayear
his
al;
physic
es
becom
ng
sufferi
nal
pain
in
his
chest"
(p.
9).
His
emotional
suffering
becomes
physical;
his
emotio
His
pain in his chest" (p. 9).
g's story
Lessinstory
from
woman
like
heart
him
pain,
like
thethe
woman
from
Lessing's
"How"How
pain,
him
causes
literallycauses
heart literally
(in
Heart"(in A Man
II Finally
my Heart"
Women), who
Lost my
Two Women),
confesses:
and Two
Finally Lost
who confesses:
Man and
it three?
oritwas
years,
I spent
"When
forfor
new
pastures,
I spent
two two
years,
or was
three?
half- halfpastures,
new
me
leftme
heleft
"Whenhe
.
about.
carry
to
ible
imposs
stone,
a
dead,
and
my
heart
was
a
stone,
impossible
to
carry
about
..
."
(p.
76).
was
76).
heart
dead, and my
, boy-girl"
"gamin
, the
Tippet
Bobby
George
byby
Bobby
Tippet,
the
"gamin,
boy-girl"
nursed
andisisnursed
fallsillilland
Georgefalls
tion had
genera
"his
how
her "his generation had
to how
whom
marries.
boasts
to her
boasts
s. He
marrieHe
eventually
heeventually
whomhe
sex than
and
love
of
ss
busine
this
been
altogether
more
successful
about
this
business
of
love
and
sex
than
been altogether more successful about
got
"just
has
he
that
him
tells
the
modern
generation"
(p.
16).
But
she
tells
him
that
he
has
"just
got
she
But
16).
(p.
the modern generation"
he sees
time
first
the
for
e
Georg
into
the
habit
of
loving".
This
shocks
George
—
for
the
first
time
he
sees
shocks
This
.
loving"
of
into the habit
nce and
experie
"responsible
his own
lacking
her
and
hard,
lacking
his own
"responsible
experience
and
hard,
and
emotionless
asemotionless
her as
unders
t
canno
She
20).
(p.
the
life-time's
responses"
(p. 20). She cannot understand ortand or
responses"
life-time's
warmthofofa a
the warmth
in
something
want
"You
retort,
see
love
from
his
point
of
view.
Her
retort,
"You
justjust
want
something
in
Her
see love from his point of view.
lf
yourse
Wrap
alone?
you're
your
arms,
that's
all.
What
do
you
do
when
you're
alone?
Wrap
yourself
when
do
you
do
your arms, that's all. What
relatheir
in
is
gap
theis
great
round
makes
George
realise
howhow
great
the gap
in their relae realise
Georg
makes
pillow?",
roundaapillow?",
h of a real
or warmt
theorjoy
tionship.
she
has
never
experienced
the joy
warmth
of a real
experienced
never
has
she
Because
tionship.Because
ted,
Defea
s.
feeling
e's
love
cannot
comprehend
George's
feelings. Defeated, GeorgeGeorge
Georg
t comprehend
canno
she
affairshe
loveaffair
sness towards
and carelestowards
stops
sleeping
with
his
new
wife;
her
independence
and carelessness
ndence
indepe
stopssleeping with his new wife; her
."
45
him make him afraid to relate to her at all: "He could not bear it again,
putting himself in a position where he might hear the cold sharp words
that showed she had never had an inkling of what he felt, because it was
not in her nature to feel it" (p. 22). More and more Bobby comes to represent the modern heartless generation. In a small theatrical production
"The Offbeat Revue" George watches her perform a parody of the past,
"a sort of potted history, as it were, Noel Coward's falsely heroic view of
his time parodied. But it wasn't even that. There was no emotion, nothing"
(p. 23). George can make no impression on Bobby's life;he "aches permanently with loneliness", until the day he finds out that his wife is in love
with Jackie, the other half of her act. And it is her pain at not having her
love returned that stirs George into some kind of emotional response.
Lessing's comments at this point tell us much about her character and her
own attitude towards him: "at last, she had been admitted into the world
of emotion and they would learn to be really together. He could feel his
strength stirring along his limbs for her. He was still a man, after all" (p.
29).
Her unhappiness arouses him and restores his masculine ego. But
why must she suffer to be like him and share what is "his world of
emotion"? We see at this point that George's emotions have been selfishly
expressed. Firmly believing that the modern generation has less experience
of "love" or "emotion", George confuses his wife's unhappiness with his
own. She is upset because she can't be like those people younger than her self, who are carefree in their relationships. George refuses to believe that
she is older than she looks and in fact a part of his generation. Her final
performance (one which he, as a theatrical producer, cannot direct), when
she deliberately makes herself look like a forty-year old unattractive and
graceless woman, is her definitive act of changing from her imaginary world
of youth and beauty (which of course is also a part of the theatrical world)
into the harsh world of social reality.
George's reaction is to plead for her former appearance, and it woujd
seem that it is her appearance only that he really cares for: "I do so love
you in your nice clothes. I do so love you being beautiful in your lovely
clothes" (p. 31). He doesn't want to know the real Bobby; it is too much
for his "world of emotion" to cope with. Bobby, however, refuses to play
a part for him any longer: "I haven't got time for all this nonsense any more" (p. 32). So George is left in the end with "his heart . . . swelling, an
enormous soft growth of pain" (p. 32). Was Bobbyright after all about his
"habit of loving"? He could love only on his own terms and felt lost when
he had nothing to love. The story demonstrates then both the obsessive
nature of love and the misunderstanding of emotion between people, and
more simply the delicate and painful emotional dilemma in which a lonely
old man constantly finds himself. Ellen Brooks's claim then, about Lessing's
characters in general, has little relevance in this instance.
46
(from
"Flight"
story
Loving)
The
ofLoving)
thestory
Habitof
The
"Flight"
(from
The Habit
grandfatherininthe
old grandfather
The old
accepts
but painfully
he finally
misunderstood,
is
misunderstood,
yet yet
he finally
but painfully
accepts
and
oldand
George,old
like George,
is like
himself.
suit
to
nature
of
cOurse
change
the
hehe
cannot
change
the the
course of nature to suit himself.
cannot
that
realisationthat
the realisation
his
against
rails
man
old
the
character
As
an
imperious
King
Lear-like
character
the
old
man
rails
against
his
Lear-like
King
As an imperious
to
not want
He does
to marry.
daughter
daughter
her
young
daughter
to marry.
He does
not want
to
young
her
allowing
forallowing
daughterfor
"He
her sisters:
like
marriage
an early
in early
see
caught
in an
marriage
like her
sisters:
"He
caught
granddaughter
hisgranddaughter
see his
few months
a months
inside
thought
three
girls,
transformed
inside
a few
from from
transformed
girls,
three
other
theother
ofthe
thoughtof
matrons"
young
serious
150).
into
children
charming,
children into serious young matrons" (p. (p. 150).
spoiled
petulant,spoiled
charming,petulant,
that the
the birds
bybirds
the story
in story
symbolised
are
His
are
symbolised
in the
by the
that the
children
daughter'schildren
His daughter's
keeps.
old
mankeeps.
old man
his "strutthe doves,
playing
In
hehe
is content
playing
withwith
the doves,
his "strutis content
scene
openingscene
theopening
In the
his grandsees
he his
changes
ting, preening
However,
his his
mood
changes
whenwhen
he sees
grandmood
However,
birds".
preeningbirds".
ting,
son.
the postmaster's
for postmaster's
waiting
gate
the
daughter
onon
the
gate
waiting
for the
son. As
he As he
swinging
daughterswinging
He holds
pigeon".
"a homing
bird,
favourite
watches
takes
hishis
favourite
bird,
"a homing
pigeon".
He holds
takes
he
girlhe
thegirl
watchesthe
strive
shape
plump
"He
the
take
flight:
"He
feltfelt
thethe
plump
shape
strive
and and
flight:
take
can
beforeititcan
birdbefore
the bird
spite,
troubled
of
access
sudden
a
in
strain
under
his
fingers;
and
in
a
sudden
access
of
troubled
spite,
shut
theshut the
and
strain under his fingers;
the girl,
he stalks
Asstalks
(p. 147).
bolt"
bird
and
fastened
thethe
bolt"
(p. 147).
As he
the girl,
fastened
and
box
smallbox
intoaasmall
bird into
the birds"
of birds"
crooning
with
mingled
her
"a light
mingled
with
thethe
crooning
of the
sound
happysound
light happy
- "a
singing—
her singing
his
towards
he turns
"courting"
is going
she
angers him.
him. When
she
is going
"courting"
he turns
towards
his
knows
heknows
Whenhe
-—angers
daughter
his
with
shared
he
house
the
dovecote,
"which
was
his
refuge
from
the
house
he
shared
with
his
daughter
from
refuge
his
was
dovecote, "which
and fears
the cooing
atcooing
mutters
and
and
their
children",
mutters
at the
birds, birds,
and fears
children",
their
and
husband
herhusband
and her
all the
Gone
be empty.
would
house
the
for
now
the
house
would
be empty.
Gone
all the
now
"But
future:"But
ownfuture:
his own
for his
teasing.
their
and
squabbling
their
and
young
laughter
and their squabbling and their teasing. He He
laughter
their
withtheir
girlswith
young girls
the young
148).
would
be
left
uncherished
and
alone"
(p. (p.
148).
Yet Yet
the young
girl's girl's
loss, loss,
alone"
and
uncherished
would be left
her freedom
losefreedom
will her
mourns
we
than
his;his;
he he
mourns
that that
she she
will lose
than
greater
begreater
willbe
know,will
we know,
her mother,
finished"
"caught
in
"caught
andand
finished"
like like
her mother,
his his
marriage,
way,ininmarriage,
anotherway,
in another
daughter.
daughter.
experience
is about
"Flight"
two-fold.
The
then
is is
two-fold.
"Flight"
is about
experience
then
conflict
man'sconflict
oldman's
The old
however,
the birds,
withbirds,
analogy
captivity.
and
and
and
captivity.
TheThe
analogy
with the
however,
freedom
innocence,freedom
and innocence,
herofkind of
girl chooses
thechooses
As girl
story.
of the
takes
atat
the
end
of the
story.
As the
her kind
end
the
turn
ironicturn
anironic
takes an
old man's
the
And
set free.
arefree.
birds
eyes),
captivity
man's
eyes),
thethe
birds
are set
And the
old
man's
man's
old
theold
(inthe
captivity(in
decision.
her
of
meaning
the
of
glimpse
sacrifice
gives
the
girl
a
horrifying
glimpse
of
the
meaning
of
her
decision.
horrifying
a
girl
the
gives
sacrifice
grass and
and and
shadowed
While
return
to to
"the
shadowed
earthearth
over over
trees trees
and grass
"the
return
birds
thebirds
Whilethe
shadow,
the cold
in cold
field",
stands
"pale
in the
shadow,
and heand
sawhe
thesaw the
"pale
stands
granddaughter
thegranddaughter
field",the
is ominous,
scene
closing
tears
offoff
her
face"
(p. (p.
152).
TheThe
closing
scene
is ominous,
152).
face"
her
shivering
runshivering
tears run
"running
no longer
hinting
lifelife
facing
thethe
girl,girl,
no longer
"running
free".free".
facing
serious
andserious
darkand
thedark
atthe
hintingat
a large
form
stories
"Flight"
the
many
African
stories
thatthat
form
a large
African
many
the
reminiscentofof
isreminiscent
"Flight" is
are
women
in which
stories
- the
part
short
story
repertoire
— the
stories
in which
women
are
repertoire
story
short
Lessing's
ofLessing's
part of
controlled
subservient
to them:
theythey
mustmust
learnlearn
to livetoinlive
the in the
to them:
subservient
man,
theirman,
bytheir
controlledby
and nature
mannature
where
of Africa
velds
man's
the
great
velds
of Africa
where
man and
are theare the
great
the
environment,
man'senvironment,
their work
to work
attitudes
men's
only
this
environment
the the
men's
attitudes
to their
environment
this
protagonists.InIn
only protagonists.
is dealt
theme
women.
their
are
relationships
with
their
women.
(This(This
theme
is dealt
with
relationships
their
reflectedinintheir
are reflected
novel
Lessing's
with
novel
lengthininLessing's
Singing.)Long
at length
The
with at
GrassisisSinging.)
TheGrass
strenuous
Longstrenuous
time or
littleor
days
expanses
of African
landland
give give
men men
little time
of African
expanses
lonely
thelonely
onthe
spenton
days spent
and friends.
family
inclination
personal
matters
concerning
family
and friends.
concerning
matters
personal
relatetoto
inclinationtotorelate
47
"The De Wets come to Kloof Grange" tells of two men, one a retired
major, the other his assistant who brings his "child bride" to the vast lonely
outbacks, expecting her to settle down to a life of child bearing. While the
men devote their lives to the grange, their wives struggle to keep feelings of
panic and loneliness at bay, and the story reaches its climax with De Wet
beating his pregnant wife because of her attempted escape. The young girl's
despairing query, "Who would be a woman, eh7" (p. 52), echoes an older
woman's statement from "The Traitors" 7
It's no life for a woman, this"
(p. 82). It is no life for a woman in all the African stories - but then it's
not much of a life for the men either. The young De Wet at Kloof Grange,
misunderstanding his wife's behaviour, beats her as a result of his own frustrations; his problems with his work and life are intolerable. The land and
the farm are a kind of hell over which he can exert no control.
Lessing is able to sum up the great complexity of the problem, because Of her own experiences in African territory: "In a civilised sort of
place, the girl would have caught the train to her mother, and a wire would
have put everything right. Here, she might have killed herself, simply
because of a passing fit of despair" (p. 59). Communication breaks down
on all levels here; the women learn not to worry their men with their problems. The major's wife, Mrs Gale, however, shocked at seeing De Wet's
treatment of his wife, attempts a change: "Then she interjected a remark
(a thing she never did, as a rule, for women get used to sitting silent when
men discuss farming)" (p. 48). Her husband's absent-minded reply, "Yes
dear", which does not at all fit her remark fills her with anger and resentment. The bitterness grows inside her, and later she becomes hysterical.
But the major knows her anger must be mollified - what is the use
of railing against overwhelming odds? He has learnt to accept defeat, to
swallow his bitterness and struggle to cope. The nature of his work has
taught him this. He stoically tolerates his wife's outbursts, sees her despair,
but knows he can do nothing to help. He cannot tell De Wet to stop maltreating his young wife; experience will be the young farmer's only teacher.
In time he too will understand that to make life tolerable in this environment he has to withdraw from open human conflict, and to ignore the
woman's hatred of her lot (tragically all too often at the expense of female
sanity, as Lessing frequently shows). But for the sake of his own sanity he
cannot bring out his own frustrations on another person. AsMrs Gale comments: "These might be savages, the way they behave" (p.62). She is right
about De Wet, but as Lessirig has shown in this story, uncivilised irrational
behaviour must not be allowed to take over from normal "civilised" reactions of showing respect and giving consolation, or the consequences can
be disastrous (as in The Grass is Singing).
In "The De Wets come to Kloof Grange" Major Gale's final comment
to his distraughtwife is an innocuous and hopefully pacifying remark about
the weather, "A lovely morning". But the final scene, one of resignation,
indicates the futility of the wife's outbursts. She will simmer quietly as she
drifts mentally further from her husband. He remains helpless, unable to
: "
48
held culis culweather),
about
pleasantries
comfort
pleasantries
about
the the
weather),
yet isyet
held
(beyond
wife(beyond
hiswife
comforthis
his wife's
cope
cannot
But
pable
But
hehe
justjust
cannot
cope
withwith
his wife's
emo-emoapart.
driftingapart.
theirdrifting
fortheir
pable for
not responsible.
is blamed,
heblamed,
although
and
tional
and
although
he is
he is he
notisresponsible.
despair,
criesofofdespair,
tional cries
she
the relationships
about
Howe
Lessing's
comment
to Florence
Howe
about
the relationships
she
to Florence
comment
own
Lessing'sown
problem:
this
light
throws
writes about
throws
light
on on
this problem:
stories
herstories
aboutininher
writes
of a
is so much
. . much
everywhere
sexes
The
between
thethe
sexes
everywhere
. . . is. so
of a
between
relationship
The relationship
in
get sucked
be'ong
don't
that
emotions
ofemotions
melting
all kinds
that
don't
belong
get sucked
in
kindsof
pot—- all
meltingpot
sucks
of loaded
women,
and
.- .. .. Similarly
and
women,
anyany
sortsort
of loaded
pointpoint
sucks
men
withmen
Similarlywith
about
understand
in
. .. .. I.don't
think
we we
understand
about
what what
goes goes
think
I don't
fear
orfear
angeror
in anger
on.88
on.
that both
frustrations
difficulties
In
has
shown
thethe
difficulties
andand
frustrations
that both
shown
has
Lessing
storyLessing
thisstory
In this
environment.
African
men
live
with
in in
thethe
African
environment.
The The
men,men,
with
live
must
womenmust
andwomen
men and
are
relationships
in when
themselves
however,
work
to to
immerse
themselves
in when
relationships
are
immerse
work
their
havetheir
however,have
on emotional
backs
turning
withdraw,
strained.
therefore,
withdraw,
turning
theirtheir
backs
on emotional
therefore,
can,
Theycan,
strained.They
get sucked
belong
don't
"emotions
problems
to to
letlet
"emotions
thatthat
don't
belong
get sucked
in". in".
refusing
andrefusing
problemsand
independence
value
men
Maybe
forfor
survival;
men
value
theirtheir
independence
and soand so
survival;
technique
it'saatechnique
Maybeit's
De
shared.
too closely
notclosely
aretoo
women's
make
and
their
women's
liveslives
are not
shared.
De
their
and
lives
theirlives
suretheir
makesure
the
in
about
writes
Lessing
men
the
of
most
Wet
wants
it
this
way,
as
do
most
of
the
men
Lessing
writes
about
in
the
do
as
Wet wants it this way,
short
stories.
short stories.
wants
Man",
a Non-Marrying
Story
"The
Johnny
Story
of of
a Non-Marrying
Man",
wants
Blakeworthy,inin"The
Johnny Blakeworthy,
but leaves
women
many
itit this
it.it.
HeHe
shares
hishis
life life
withwith
many
women
but leaves
them them
shares
gets
andgets
wayand
thisway
like
"I to
claims:
to no-one
himself
commit
when
himself
to no-one
andand
claims:
"I like
beto be
He'llcommit
him.He'll
suitshim.
when itit suits
(p. 224).
the move"
onmove"
bethe
I must
my
restless,
andand
I must
be on
(p. 224).
restless,
I get
master. .. .. I.get
ownmaster
my own
of BlakeThe account
husband.
Three
claim
himhim
as their
husband.
The account
of Blakeas their
claim
however,
women,however,
Threewomen,
fictionalized
deliberately
a story,
within
story
worthy's
story
within
a story,
deliberately
fictionalized
affairsisisa a
maritalaffairs
worthy's marital
second
Johnny's
marry
actually
who
by
who
diddid
actually
marry
Johnny's
second
MeGinnery,
AlanMcGinnery,
"author",Alan
its "author",
by its
the reason
life, giving
of Johnny's
wife. But
thethe
story
of Johnny's
life, giving
the reason
that that
story
compresses
hecompresses
Buthe
wife.
any ficdrama
coincidence
with
lavish
more
"life
lavish
with
coincidence
andand
drama
than than
any ficmuchmore
alwaysmuch
is always
"life is
however,
story,
the
of story, however, is notis not
point
tion
(p.(p.
234).
The
point
of the
The
234).
be"
darestotobe"
writerdares
tion writer
clearer.
it becomes
in fact
changes;
lost
in fact
it becomes
clearer.
despiteitsitschanges;
lost despite
in appearance,
dissimilar
quite
It
women,
all all
quite
dissimilar
in appearance,
women,
different
threedifferent
ofthree
tellsof
It tells
cortroI
freedom,
man's
their
limit
but
purpose:
to to
limit
their
man's
freedom,
control
his his
purpose:
common
withaacommon
but with
of their
difficulty
carefree
make
him
sympathise
withwith
the the
difficulty
of their
sympathise
him
make
and
activities,and
carefreeactivities,
him,
marry
They
him).
marrying
by
choose
roles
(which
they
deliberately
choose
by
marrying
him).
They
marry
him,
deliberately
roles (which they
(p. 226)
of "spinster"
labels
though,
society's
ignominious
labels
of "spinster"
(p. 226)
ignominious
society's
their
avoidtheir
toavoid
though,to
conformity;
is about
or
(p.(p.
234).
The
story
in ain
sense
is about
conformity;
in a in a
a sense
story
The
234).
woman"
"scarletwoman"
or "scarlet
conventions
England,
native
their
from
small
isolated
from
their
native
England,
conventions
have ahave a
isolated
group
socialgroup
small social
are rigorously
set roles
of living
customs
stronger
habits
and
customs
of living
set roles
are rigorously
and
habits
The
appeal.The
strongerappeal.
in a less
decline
moral
adhered
this
precludes
anyany
moral
decline
whilewhile
living living
in a less
precludes
this
because
adheredtotobecause
an Englishman,
asEnglishman,
"civilised"
Blakeworthy,
as an
is an is an
Blakeworthy,
Consequently
area.Consequently
"civilised"area.
labelled
is uniquely
he
one.
anomaly.
himself
to no
one.
AndAnd
he is
uniquely
labelled
as a as a
to no
himself
commit
He'llcommit
anomaly.He'll
is no sugThere
married.
legally
is never
"non-marrying
because
he he
is never
legally married. There is no sugbecause
man"
"non-marryingman"
has no
who
Man
"A
term,
African
gestion
of
marriage
in
the
equivalent
African
term,
"A
Man
who
has
no
equivalent
the
in
marriage
of
gestion
legal social
a strict
isanot
marriage
Woman"
perhaps
because
marriage
is not
strict
legal social
con- conbecause
perhaps
236),
(p.236),
Woman"(p.
natives.
Africannatives.
for African
vention for
vention
49
The three English women who think they are married to Blakeworthy
try to change him but fail to understand that his way , of life and ideals are
more akin to the natives. Thenarratormeets the first wife, "a plump, darkhaired creature in a pink apron, her hands floury with cooking", who complains that Blakeworthy had left her after eleven months, then sent her a
letter, "thanking her for all her kindness". The wife considers the letter is
like "a slap in the face" (p. .229). By chance the narrator runs into the
second wife, attractive and fair-haired, who talks about Blakeworthy "in
the same impatient, yearning bitter, urgent voice of her sister of the evening
before" (p. 230). She too after her husband's departure had received a
letter "saying he would never forget her affectionate kindness". The letter
had upset her: "It was a funny thing to say wasn't it?" (p. 231). The
"plump, red-haired, voluble" third wife is the narrator's next hostess who
happens to still be married to Blakeworthy at that time. When Blakeworthy
joins her with their guest, she immediately scolds him for being late and
for not having washed, provoking his reply, "Don't try to housetrain me",
a remark that indicates he will not stay with this woman for much longer
either.
The third wife had moaned about her having to "spend her life
cooking and slaving for a man", doing exactly what he didn't want her to
do, since there was simply no need for it. The way he saw it was "he was
invited, three times a day, to sit down at a table crammed with roast beef
and chickens and puddings and cakes and biscuits"; he would have been
quite happy living off or'ie piece of meat that could last for four days. He
tells his wife: "If you don't spend a lot of money, then you don't have to
earn it and you are free" (p. 238). His yearning for freedom clashes with
his wife's need for cluttering up her life with trivia and mindless hard work
(like Annie Blake in "He", The Habit of Loving, pp. 183-90). But the
tragedy is that she acts in his interests performing conventional tasks of
running a home and feeding her husband because there is nothing else she
can do within the confines of her own narrow concept and view of what
marriage is.
In Blakeworthy's view his "wives" suffer from a misguided sense of
duty which prevents them from forming basic humane and understanding
relationships based on true feeling. What he values most is "kindness" although he understands it in a ',ery broad sense. He thanks his wives for
their "kindness" in so far as they looked after him, while he supported
them, but in the end he finds real kindness (as Lessing tells us) among the
natives: "he found a life that suited him, and a woman with whom he lived
in kindness" (p. 238). "Kindness" is a word that occurs frequently in Lessing's writings. Tommy in The Go/c/en Notebook makes an observation in
a conversation with Anna:
'If people can imagine something, there'll come a time when they'll
achieve it.'
'Imagine what?'
'What you said - goodness. Kindness. The end of being animals'
(p. 274).
50
Lear
in Shakespeare's
King Lear.
Lear. Lear
on "kindness"
There
emphasis
on "kindness"
in Shakespeare's
emphasis
same
thesame
Thereisisthe
comfor
is "kind
Cordelia
that
daughter,
tells
daughter,
that
Cordelia
is "kind
and and
comfor"unkind"
his"unkind"
Goneril,his
tells Goneril,
(4.2.29).
princess"
dear
a "kind
her
her
a "kind
andand
dear
princess"
(4.2.29).
The The
calls
Kentcalls
(1.4.307); Kent
table"
table" (1.4.307);
that binds
feeling
affection,that
of natural
isnatural
sense
in in
the
word
is of
affection
, that feeling
that binds
word
the
contained
sensecontained
in
affection
lacking
"unkind",
are
Regan
and
father
to
daughter.
Goneril
and
Regan
are
"unkind",
lacking
affection
in
Goneril
daughter.
to
father
is more
morality
their
animals
like
the
are
like
animals
for for
their
morality
is more
akin akin
are
They
sense.They
"natural"sense.
the "natural"
behaviour.
to bestial
bestialbehaviour.
from
affection,
natural
Blakeworthy
natural
affection,
onlyonly
from
an an
kindness,
truekindness,
findstrue
Blakeworthyfinds
with
carries
he
which
meal
maize
his
eat
African
woman.
With
her
he
can
eat
his
maize
meal
which
he
carries
with
can
he
her
With
African woman.
ventures:
prospecting
hisprospecting
him
ventures:
onhis
him on
and probably
a statement
The
the
maize
flour
waswas
a statement
and probably
unam- unamflour
maize
the
presenceofof
The presence
staple
as their
porridge
maize-meal
ate
biguous,
for the
maize-meal
porridge
as their
staple
food. food.
Africansate
theAfricans
biguous,for
nourishing,
cooked,
quickly
It
obtainable,
quickly
cooked,
nourishing,
but but
obtainable,
easily
cheap,easily
wascheap,
It was
diet, because
theirbecause
of diet,
the basis
as basis
white
eat
it, it,
at least
not not
as the
of their
at least
eat
not
didnot
mendid
white men
(p. 222).
as Africans
level
same
put
they
bebe
put
onon
thethe
same
level
as Africans
(p. 222).
wishtoto
notwish
didnot
they did
also the
explores
man
non-marrying
The
story,
then,
ostensibly
about
a
non-marrying
man
explores
also
the
a
The story, then, ostensibly about
of
- differ
people
separate
that
prejudices
and
strong
conventions,
customs
and
prejudices
that
separate
people
of
differcustoms
conventions,
strong
own needs;
his needs;
toown
according
ent
however,
cancan
livelive
according
to his
un- unhowever,
Blakeworthy,
races.Blakeworthy,
ent races.
the women,
Unlike
attachments.
permanent
hindered
or or
permanent
attachments.
Unlike
the women,
responsibilities
byresponsibilities
hinderedby
and detachment.
non-involvement
he
allall
hishis
independence,
non-involvement
and detachment.
independence,
mostofof
valuesmost
he values
stimulation
adequate
provides
alone
work
Gale,
Like
Gale,
hishis
work
alone
provides
adequate
stimulation
Major
andMajor
Wetand
DeWet
Like De
satisfaction.
and satisfaction.
and
do confront
stories
in these
Men
therefore,
in these
stories
do confront
each each
other other
therefore,
women,
andwomen,
Men and
in relationships
a gulf
There
needs".
"according
different
needs".
There
is ais
gulf
in relationships
mademade
different
vastly
"accordingtotovastly
both sides.
onsides.
judgement
gs and
even
poorpoor
judgement
on both
Men Men
misunderstandinand
bymisunderstandings
widerby
evenwider
or definition.
do
any
self-identification
or definition.
self-identification
any
for
marriagefor
needmarriage
not need
do not
her older
thatolder
the need
conveys
realistically
Lessing,
realistically
conveys
the need
that her
nevertheless,
Lessing,nevertheless,
concern
and
affection
genuine
where
relationships
male
have
forfor
relationships where genuine affection and concern
have
characters
malecharacters
Witness",
older
about
stories
Her
have
Her
stories
about
older
menmen
("The("The
Witness",
"The "The
importance.
mostimportance.
have most
glimpses
sympathetic
show
tend
Habit
tend
to to
show
sympathetic
glimpses
of of
"Flight")
and"Flight")
Loving"and
ofLoving"
Habit of
to be made.
and adjustments
changes
when
problems
especially
when
changes
and adjustments
have tohave
be made.
especially
faced,
problemsfaced,
a
her 'lather,
with
experiences
of her
a result
Lessing's
may
bebe
a result
of her
ownown
experiences
with her
father,
a
may
insights
Lessing'sinsights
about his
bitterhis
increasingly
he became
man
observed
closely
as he
increasingly
bitter about
asbecame
closely
observed
she
whomshe
manwhom
Father"
a sensitive
entitled
own
simply
entitled
"My"My
Father"'
° 0she
a sensitive
simply
presents
shepresents
essay
anessay
life.InInan
own life.
1: "the
World
after
disillusionment
portrait
him,
hishis
disillusionment
after
World
WarWar
1: "the
him,
saw
shesaw
howshe
ofhow
portraitof
ill" (p. 87).
oldill"and
he grew
asgrew
strengthened
anger,
ofof
betrayal,
strengthened
as he
old and
(p. 87).
betrayal,
sense
thesense
anger,the
in
his experiences
in Major
of him
She
seen
a part
of him
in Major
Gale,Gale,
for hisfor
experiences
in
a part
seen
have
evenhave
mayeven
She may
(Lessing's
his wife
which
"misery"
Rhodesia
aa
life
of of
"misery"
(p. (p.
91)91)
which
his wife
(Lessing's
life
into
himinto
ledhim
Rhodesialed
years.
twenty
for
sharedfor
mother)
twenty
years.
mother)shared
circumnot "oppressors";
are "oppressors";
in general
Lessing's
characters
in general
are not
circumcharacters
male
Lessing'smale
their attitudes
influence
do strongly
stance,
and
occupation
do strongly
influence
their attitudes
occupation
and
position
socialposition
stance,social
She recognises
limited.
is unduly
view
towards
Brooks's
view
is unduly
limited.
She recognises
Brooks's
Ellen
butEllen
womenbut
towardswomen
a presentation
presentation,
multi-faceted
merely
ofof
Lessing's
multi-faceted
presentation,
a presentation
Lessing's
facet
onefacet
merelyone
culpability.
man's
than
vulnerability
that
we
can
see
stresses
more
woman's
vulnerability
than
man's
culpability.
woman's
more
stresses
that we can see
shown
men
she
Lessing's
And
men
do suffer
asas
she
hashas
shown
in in
someofofLessing's
And some
relationships,
inrelationships,
sufferin
the suffering
sees
"The
Habit
of of
Loving",
yet yet
sheshe
sees
the suffering
Loving",
Habit
"The
and"The
Witness"and
"The Witness"
51
51
as more a result of loneliness and depression, than a yearning for romantic
love. What Lessing writes about then is not a battle between the sexes, but
a struggle for men and women to understand and communicate the complexities and problems that are an integral part of involvement for both
parties.
NOTES
Since many hardbound original editions of Lessing's works were inaccessible or in some cases unavailable, paperback reprints have had to be
cited.
'In LiNQ, 6, No. 1 (1978), pp. 24-38.
2
"The Image of Women in Lessing's The Go/den Notebook ' Critique:
Studies in Modern Fiction, 15 (1973-4), 101-109.
3
1n A Man and Two Women (1963; rpt. London: Panther Books, 1965),
pp. 66-75.
4
1n The Habit of Loving (1957; rpt. London: Panther Books, 1966), pp.
48-60.
In Winter in July (originally part of the collection African Stories, 1964;
rpt. St. Albans: Panther Books, 1966), pp. 36-62.
6
The Story of a Non-Marrying Man and Other Stories (London: Cape,
1972), pp. 221 -238.
7
ln The Black Madonna (originally part of the collection African Stories,
1964; rpt. St. Albans: Panther Books, 1966).
8
"A Talk with Doris Lessing." Nation, 6 March 1967, p. 312.
9
The Golden Notebook, new ed. (1972; rpt. London: Panther Books,
1973).
10
In A Small Personal Voice... ed. and introd. Paul Schleuter (New York:
Vintage Books, 1975), pp. 83-93.
52