The Emotional Dilemma And The Exploration Of Free Women

Doris Lessing (1919–) is one of the most famous writers in contemporary England. In her novel Love, Again (1996), Lessing tries to put her focus on the emotional dilemma of the ignored old professional women. The novel describes a free professional woman Sarah Durham experiences the emotional confusion in the process of the pursuit of freedom and reveals the actual state of free women in contemporary society: in the emotional dilemma. The thesis analyzes Sarah's emotional dilemma and tries to find the possible way out of emotional dilemma. The thesis is based on the study of Sarah's life experiences with the help of Fromm's theory of love and freedom.The thesis attempts to interpret Love, Again from the perspective of psychoanalysis by analyzing its text in detail. It is composed of six parts. In Chapter One a brief survey is made on Doris Lessing's life, her novel Love, Again and her concern for women reflected in her life. Also demonstrated is the structure of the thesis. Chapter Two is Literature Review and Theoretical Foundation. Firstly, the previous critical studies from various angles on this novel are summarized. Then, psychoanalysis is introduced, which serves as the theoretical basis for the analysis to follow. In the third chapter, based on the theory of psychoanalysis, through close reading of the novel, the illusion of women's emotional freedom in Love, Again is illustrated. Chapter Four stresses the fact that free women are becoming increasingly confused in the illusion of freedom. Sarah gets the so-called freedom, but in this freedom Sarah feels lonely most of the time: the more freedom the more loneliness. In loneliness and trouble, Sarah gets comfort through dreams. Chapter Five discusses what the novel conveys as a solution to Sarah's emotional dilemma– a solution similar to Fromm's proposal that man has to find"a new harmony""to man and nature,a relationship that connects the individual with the world without eliminating his individuality."Real freedom will be achieved in the fusion and understanding between the sexes. The last part summarizes the present research and points out that Love, Again reflects Lessing's thinking on the emotional problem of"free women": the real freedom of women should not be confined to the external freedom or independence signified in"a room of one's own"; it depends more on the harmonious relationship between women and men, women and nature.