Citation

Ota Y. J.Poole Gakuin Univ. 2000; 40: 39-53.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Poole Gakuin University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This study deals with A Proper Marriage (1954), the second book in the Children of Violence series by Doris Lessing. In this novel Martha Quest's (the protagonist's) newly married life, her childbirth, and her childcare are closely related with "mimetic realism". Some critics complain about its "flat, prosaic, and two-dimensional" quality and they suggest that readers will be disappointed with the conventionality of its narratives. Doris Lessing herself, however, highly estimates the works of the nineteenth century realist novelists and defines "realism as art which springs so vigorously and naturally... that it contains symbolism." This paper discusses how effectively Doris Lessing uses some imagery in her realistic style of description and, as an outcome, how the theme of Martha's romantic rebellion can symbolically be developed.