Essay, Research Paper
Almost every story is a reflection or a past experience of its author s life. Every author, often even unconsciously, leaves a trace of his own psyche in his or her work. Moreover, it is the purpose of literature to tell about life.According to our assignment, my partner and I will try to show how Doris Lessing s life experience influenced one of her own stories, The Old Chief Mshlanga, which we chose, and how the chosen story reflects Doris Lessing s life in its symbols.Doris Lessing, though born in Kermanshah, Iran in 1919, spent her childhood years and her youth living on a farm in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. She attended a girl s high school in Salisbury, but never graduated.Doris Lessing lived in Rhodesia from 1924 to 1949. It is already in London, where she moved to, she started writing professionally. She went through many stages in her life: she has been an active participant in the struggle for black liberation, a socialist, a feminist, and even a Sufi mystic, but all throughout those stages she was a writer.Her books, novels, and stories are largely concerned with people and problems involved in the social and political upheavals of twentieth century Africa. Daughter of a white settler, Lessing has written that living in Africa is to be reminded twenty times a day of injustice (Western Literature, 1794).The story of The Old Chief Mshlanga is about a fourteen-year-old girl whose name is not mentioned otherwise than her African nickname Nkosikaas– chieftainess . The adolescent Nkosikaas, who is also the narrator, tells her story of how she grew aware of the immense landscape of Africa, how she met the old chief Mshlanga who intrigued her that she even visited his kraal (village), how her dislike of locals and her fear of them (she carried a gun and had dogs to protect her because of that) grew into an easy
friendliness for the Africans (Western Literature, 1799). The story ends in a conflict between the narrator s father and the old chief over twenty goats. Although the chief s tribe gets relocated and looses the goats, they are the ones who have the narrator s respect.Since Lessing s work reflects a certain psychological realism, the story of The Old Chief Mshlanga tends to be autobiographical. The author, thus, is little Nkosikaas. The impressions of Nkosikaas are really the memories of impressions of Africa of Doris Lessing s youth. As the author said herself, (Africa) is not a place to visit unless one chooses to be an exile ever afterwards from majestic silence lying just over the border memory or thought. Africa gives you the knowledge that a man is a small creature, among other creatures, in a large landscape (Western Literature, 1794). Being only a small creature – it is one of the realization the main character makes towards the end of the story.The author is a woman and a feminist. One of the struggles of feminism is to be a man s equal. However, the situation is reversed in this story. Since the main character is a girl, she feels superior to every man, for the exception of her father, and towards the end, the old chief. We believe that is a similarity between Doris Lessing and her character.Another similarity between the two is loneliness of both, Lessing and the narrator. The narrator spends most of her time walking with a gun over her shoulder and her dogs following her through the various grasslands and hills. She is alone looking for excitement. Just like the narrator, the author is walking through life discovering things, also often alone.The personal issues of the narrator s life cannot be distinguished from those of Doris Lessing. Lessings psychological realism works perfectly it is a story of a person who lived it.
Другие работы по теме:
The Fifth Child By Lessing And N
?? Is For Noose? By Grafton Essay, Research Paper Conflict is an integral part of a literary work. Many authors use conflict as a technique to help the reader feel exactly what the character is going through in he/she’s internal battles and struggles. Both of the fictional pieces, “The Fifth Child” by Doris Lessing and “’N’ Is For Noose” by Sue Grafton, contain significant conflicts between characters which are brought out through the use of many scenarios within the novels.
Conscience Created Or Innate Essay Research Paper
“Conscience created or innate” To what extent do you think you are dictated by your surroundings and your up-bringing? Do you claim your opinions to be your own? Do you trust your logic and your conscience? These are questions that are seldom asked by ourselves or by others. In fact, these kinds of questions could almost be considered taboo.
The Painter Essay Research Paper Suddenly he
The Painter Essay, Research Paper Suddenly, he woke up. He sensed that the train had stopped. ?Am I in Beijing?? John Gwen thought. He looked around and saw Tianjing signs on the pillars in the train station. ?Looks like this is it. Well I better hop off and glance around. After he hopped off, he saw two security guards hurrying toward him.
Dorris Lessing Essay Research Paper Dear Ms
Dorris Lessing Essay, Research Paper Dear Ms. Doris Lessing, I just finished reading the short story you wrote, The Woman on the Roof and I must say that I was rather confused about its meaning. Perhaps I was not looking deep enough into the story, but all I got out of it was that there was a woman tanning on the roof being harassed by disrespectful men.
The Black Madonna Essay Research Paper Doris
The Black Madonna Essay, Research Paper Doris Lessing s The Black Madonna Questioning the basis of what you are and who you are, is a vast amount of what Lessing theme is all about. The narrator states There are some countries in which the arts, let alone art, cannot be said to flourish. Why this should be so, it is hard to say, although of course we all have our theories about it (Lessing11).
War And Peace Of The Crow Indians
Essay, Research Paper Most of the Crow Indians reside in Southeastern Montana, while many others are scattered among the Northern Plains of the USA. The Crow Indians have lived in this area for at least 300 years. Many problems arouse whether they had to do with war, politics, or land ownership issues. The Crow Indians are not known as a war-going tribe, but as a peaceful group who tried to avoid war as much as possible.
Fifth Child Essay Research Paper The Fifth
Fifth Child Essay, Research Paper ?The Fifth Child? In ?The Fifth Child,? Lessing contrasts society?s idea of an ?ideal? family to the ?real? dysfunctional family in our everyday lives. Harriet and David?s dream was to have the ?ideal? family. They made the mistake of setting standards too high for themselves and putting a front of an ideal family, which was just a cover for the real dysfunctional one.
Doris Lessing Essay Research Paper Doris Lessing
Doris Lessing Essay, Research Paper Doris Lessing Doris Lessing wrote many novels, short stories, and plays. Most of her recognized works are in a series called “Children of Violence”. This work consists of a five part series starring a character named Martha Quest, whom portrays Lessing’s real life trials.
Gender And Relationships Essay Research Paper How
Gender And Relationships Essay, Research Paper How Men View Women Men view women as objects of their imagination come to life. They have their own belief on what women should look at act like. From Scott Russell Sanders? essay, ?Looking at Women?, the character Tom thought he knew how the women would act towards him before he even met her.
The Role Of The President Essay Research
Paper 6 rolls of president: 1)chief of state- the ceremonial head of the government of the U.S. 2)chief executive- vested by the Constitution with ??the executive power of the U.S.??
Summary Of The Book Through The Tunnel
By Doris Lessing Essay, Research Paper Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing This story is about a young boy named Jerry who goes on vacation to a beach with his mother. One day, he sees a rock bay and wants to check it out. He goes over there and starts swimming and sees some foreign boys swimming under a rock wall.
To Room Nineteen Essay Research Paper Surprise
To Room Nineteen Essay, Research Paper Surprise Endings Many stories often benefit from surprise endings. They can give us great insight into the characters. Four stories that have surprise endings are Rose for Emily, Young Goodman Brown, To Room Nineteen, and The Necklace.
Wo Short Stories Of Awareness Beyond Oneself
Essay, Research Paper Two Short Stories Of Awareness Beyond Oneself:”Araby” And “A Sunrise On The Veld”"Araby” by James Joyce and “A Sunrise On The Veld” by Doris Lessing are both short stories in which theprotagonists gained a consciousness that was beyond themselves. The main characters are both initiatedinto new realities and truths of which they were not previously aware.
Araby By James Joyce And A Sunrise
On The Veld By Doris Lessing Essay, Research Paper ?Araby” by James Joyce and “A Sunrise On The Veld” by Doris Lessing are both short stories in which the protagonists gained a consciousness that was beyond themselves. The main characters are both initiated into new realities and truths of which they were not previously aware.
Doris Duke Essay Research Paper Many people
Doris Duke Essay, Research Paper Many people may think that money is the key to happiness, but Too Rich, written by Pony Duke and Jason Thomas proves this theory wrong. Doris Duke was one of the richest people in the world, in fact at her time, she was the richest woman in the world, but money does not make all people happy.
Nathan The Wise Essay Research Paper Continually
Nathan The Wise Essay, Research Paper Continually present in Gotthold Lessing?s play, Nathan the Wise, is the pursuit for truth. In particular, a truth that goes beyond religion, one that reaches to the depths of humanity: human nature?s freedom. In his play, Lessing reveals the freedom of human nature among mankind through the bonds of friendship.
Enlightened Jews Essay Research Paper ENLIGHTENED JEWS
Enlightened Jews Essay, Research Paper ENLIGHTENED JEWS Moses Mendelssohn, who was born in 1729 in central Germany, came from a poor Jewish family. He was fortunate to get a traditional Jewish education with some philosophical input. At age fourteen, he moved to Berlin to continue studying with his rabbi.
Understanding Of The Behavior Of Opposite Sexes
Essay, Research Paper The understanding of attraction between opposite sexes and the impact they have on each other has qualities of both mystery and accessibility. These complex issues are elusive and cannot be fully comprehended. Only small pieces of knowledge about them have been captured in literature, in scientific and analytical studies, and in individual’s search and speculations.
Conformity And Obedience Essay Research Paper Conformity
Conformity And Obedience Essay, Research Paper Conformity and Obedience The desire to be accepted and belong to a group is an undeniable human need. But how does this need affect an individual? Social psychologists have conducted numerous experiments and concluded that, through various forms of social influence, groups can change their members thoughts, feelings, and behavior.
Through The Tunnel Essay Research Paper Point
Through The Tunnel Essay, Research Paper Point of View Essay In the short story “Through the tunnel”, Doris Lessing describes the adventure of Jerry, a young English boy trying to swim through an underwater tunnel. Throughout the story, the author uses the third person omniscient point of view to describe the boy’s surroundings and to show us both what he and the other characters are thinking and what is happening around them.
Through The Tunnel Essay Research Paper Through
Through The Tunnel Essay, Research Paper Through the Tunnel In Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing, an eleven-year-old English boy is on vacation at an exotic beach. Getting bored with the little kid’s beach, he goes to swim at a deserted, more rocky shore. He spots some older, more mature, and more developed native boys diving into the ocean and he joins them in an effort to fit in.
Innocence
& Experience Essay, Research Paper Innocence to Experience Innocence and experience helps to raise questions in the readers mind to expand the focus on the concepts by the author. Most people develop beliefs through many sources such as media, personal observations, experiences, friends, or teachers.
Conforming To Role Model Status Essay Research
Paper Conforming to Role Model Status Growing up in a small town had its benefits. Everyone knows who you are, friends and family are real close. Life is good. But, with the community being so small you have to watch what you do and say because it gets around. Your everyday life is influenced by one group: your community.
The Obligation To Obey Essay Research Paper
It has been said that as long as the human species is in a living state conformity shall be part of how human society functions and part of man?s natural tendencies. The more people already agree upon or share a particular idea, the more easily a newcomer will in turn be converted to that idea, and the more difficult it will be for one already converted to reject that idea.
Dangers Of Obedience Essay Research Paper Most
Dangers Of Obedience Essay, Research Paper Most of us obey every day without a thought. In fact, since we live in a democratic society, we mechanically obey to the social norms that cause us to feel, think, and act in ways that are consistent with our group’s social standards, which describe what behaviors should and should not be performed in any social setting.
Growing Up Essay Research Paper The
Growing Up Essay, Research Paper The phenomenon of growing up doesn t have to happen when you re 13. You don t have to be eighteen and be fully-grown up. It occurs when a person is ready to mature mentally. What does growing up mean? It s not your bones growing, it s your mind changing. There are so many stages that everyone must go through to become an adult .
BakerS Childhood Essay Research Paper The excerpt
Baker?S Childhood Essay, Research Paper The excerpt explains Baker?s childhood growing up in the 1930s. He lived in Belleville, NJ with his younger sister Doris, and his single mother. This story to talks about Russell growing up and how his mother pushed him to work and be responsible as a young adult, but all he wanted to do is listen to ?Dick Tracy meets the Stooge Viller? on the radio reading his book.
The Stone Angel Essay Research Paper THE
The Stone Angel Essay, Research Paper THE STONE ANGEL Anger and disappointment can be a source of many things. Hagar’s anger and disappointment can be seen from her guilt and her criminal ways. Through Hagar’s guilt she feels anger for what she did and disappointment for what could have been.
Stone Angel Essay Research Paper Laurence
Stone Angel Essay, Research Paper Laurence’s use of Lilacs to foreshadow Bad Events in The Stone Angel They often say if you want to gain something you need to lose something in return. Hagar Shipley did this by purchasing a dress that she liked if she knew that she would have to sacrifice her independence that purchase would have never happened.
Essay On Flight Essay Research Paper Essay
Essay On Flight Essay, Research Paper Essay on ”Flight” It is always hard to get separated from someone you love and with whom you have shared every moment of his life until he decides to walk on a different path than yours. You don’t know how to react and confusion dominates your mind. Should you be angry at him for leaving you, or should you support and respect his decision ? In her essay ”Flight,” Doris Lessing illustrates the story of an old man who is learning to let go his granddaughter as she grows into an adult and is about to get married.
The Stone Angle Essay Research Paper In
The Stone Angle Essay, Research Paper In Margaret Laurence’s The Stone Angel, the main character Hagar Shipley refused to compromise which shaped the outcome of her life as well as the lives of those around her. “Pride was my wilderness and the demon that led me there was fear… [I was] never free, for I carried my chains within me, and they spread out from me and shackled all I touched.” (Laurence, 292).
On Women Turning 70 Essay Research Paper
Hasan Elmdauis 2/21/01 WST 101 On Women Turning 70: Honoring the Voices of Wisdom On Women Turning 70 is a book that is made up of interviews with several older women who took their biggest
Pride Of Hagar And Hester Essay Research
Paper Pride of Hagar and Hester Hagar and Hester both express the characteristics of pride. The expression of pride does differ and are similar in many ways. Such as how they show pride by and who are they proud of. Hagar shows pride by abandoning Bram, living individually and how she behaves around John, Marvin, and Doris.