A Study Of The "Marginal Man" In Doris Lessing’s Africa-themed Works

Traditionally, there is little literature in the mainstream history on the "marginal man". Researches often emphasize the heterogeneity of the the said community, while the focus on their spiritual world is more to be found in the literary works. In the modern society, their way of existence has changed tremendously:instead of being a group in a remote corner, they are increasingly integrating into the society though globalization, only to find themselves more and more lonely. In some circumstances, they may even cause some specific problems. Therefore, more attention should be given to the spiritual world of the marginal man. Since "marginal man" are a familiar type of characters in Doris Lessing’s works, this Dissertation examines the marginals in her African writings of early and middle periods in detail and systematically. A holistic approach was adopted in the analysis of their personalities, spiritual strengths and even their living conditions and ways-out as they struggle for survival. Lessing’s personal experiences, changes of her religious, ideological beliefs and her understanding on literature are also considered in studying her creation of those figures.Chapter One gives a general picture of Lessing’s African works, the related literature, and the objectives and significance of this dissertation, while the definitions of the "marginal man" in sociology, psychology and philosophy, the definition and classification of such notion in Lessing’s works as well as the marginal mentality are presented in Chapter Two. The specific classification based on images of the "marginal man" in Lessing’s works, however, is elaborated on in the next Chapter, which includes those culturally diversified, those isolated by the social community in the same culture, and those self-imposed exiles.Chapter Four focuses on the living conditions and the causes of Lessing’s writings on the marginal men. This chapter looks into their ultimate fates including assimilation, maintaining a balance, regression and transcendence: some of them are assimilated by the majority group; some try to strike a balance instead of being de-marginalized, stooping to compromise while neglecting their anxious consciousness of being marginalized; some return to their motherland or their own culture after suffering a painful blow; and still others choose a better way to overcome the difficulty, reaching a balance by deep introspection or changing beliefs. Then, this chapter discusses the causes and significance of Lessing’s writings on the marginal men. Lessing’s personal experience, family background, her marginalized context and the Sufism that influenced her are included. An analysis on the writer can make clear the significance of her writings.A conclusion is drawn in Chapter Five. It analyzes Lessing’s uniqueness with her writings on the "marginal man" and their standings in the literary history.This dissertation studies all of the African-related works of Lessing, including African-related novels, autobiographies and essays. It analyzes the long-ignored "marginal man" in Lessing’s novels, as well as the "marginal man" in some less popular but very distinctive short stories. It helps to expand the connotation of the "marginal man" in literature, benefits further study of the said realm in Lessing’s novels, and also offers help to solve the practical problems brought by the increasing number of marginal group all over the world.