A Constructive Postmodernist Understanding Of Lessing's Thoughts On Fictional Writing

Doris Lessing (1919- ) is a world famous British writer of contemporary literary world. Her fictional works are good embodiments of her inventive and unique thoughts on fictional creation. On one hand, her novels are concerned about the evolution and innovation of fictional writing skills; on the other hand, her fictions try to present a faithful reflection of social realities. Lessing put more emphasis on novelists'social responsibility with highlighting on social influences of fictional writing. Previous critics are characterized by an unfair understanding of Lessing's ideas on fictional creation by emphasizing excessively deconstructive and subversive aspects in her novels. Based on personal reading of the novel of The Golden Notebook, this thesis tries to confirm the constructive aspect of Lessing's thoughts on fictional writing under the guiding of the Constructive Postmodernism.In the twentieth century, in connection with the development of modern sciences, there emerged an ideological movement, which has been well labeled by D. R. Griffin as"Constructive Postmodernism". Constructive Postmodernism is a kind of Integrate Organism which is based on the improvement of Process Philosophy of contemporary British philosopher Alfred·North·Whitehead. Griffin, D·R and John B .Cobb, Jr. are among the group of major constructive postmodernists. Constructive Postmodernism is mainly concerned with the following three aspects: postmodern Integrate Organism, postmodern creation and postmodern ecological civilization; among these, the first one is the foundational theory, while the latter two being its logical derivations. Constructive spirit in the above postmodern ideas contributes greatly to the fictional creation in a postmodern world.This paper is divided into four parts. The first part is an introduction of literary criticism on The Golden Notebook and assumptions of this thesis besides an introduction of Lessing and her literary achievements. The second part of this paper is an explanation of Constructive Postmodernism for later analysis of Lessing's constructive thoughts on fictional-writing. The third part is about Lessing's positive attitudes to the practice of finding new writing skills for fictional creation under a postmodern environment. Meanwhile analysis of literary characteristics of The Golden Notebook is given by employing the principles of pluralism and creativity from Constructive Postmodernism, with an aim to confirm Lessing's inventive achievements in fictional writing. The fourth part is about Lessing's active and persevering spirits in dealing with varied literary themes in postmodern societies. Innovating thoughts on such topics as Christianity, human nature and gender are introduced in detail in order to prove the depth and profundity of Lessing's humanistic caring in her writings. From the aspect of Constructive Postmodernism, Lessing's constructive thoughts on fictional writing exist abundantly in terms of innovation of literary forms, active shifting of writing techniques and caring for literary themes in her fictional writings.