Female Protagonists in Doris Lessing s African Stories

Bc. Jana Rozsypalová

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Ženské postavy v afrických příbězích Doris Lessingové: Diplomová práce je zaměřena na problematiku ženských postav v románech Doris Lessingové: The Grass is Singing, A Proper Marriage a Martha Quest. Hlavní ženské postavy těchto románů jsou zasazeny do rámce širších souvislostí jejich společenského, politického a osobního života. Práce se zabývá především postavením žen v tehdejší společnosti a jejich emancipačními snahami. Hlavním předmětem zkoumání je psychologický rozbor jednotlivých postav, jejich rozporuplná identita a spletité vztahy mezi jednotlivci a společností. Nezbytnou součástí analýzy těchto románů s africkou tématikou je také rasová problematika.

Abstract:

Female Protagonists in Doris Lessing’s African Stories: The thesis examines the female protagonists in Doris Lessing’s novels The Grass is Singing, Martha Quest and A Proper Marriage. These novels are primarily concerned with the position of women in society, their emancipation efforts and their search for the self. The main field of research is a psychological analysis of the two main female protagonists, Mary Turner and Martha Quest, with regard to the socio-psychological context. A comparative analysis of the novels provides a deep insight into the women’s psyche and comments on male-female relationships and social stereotypes. The thesis is also concerned with race relations and it debates the issue of white supremacy. The focal point of research is the interconnection between the individual and the collective identity with the role of society as a connecting element.

Keywords

Doris Lessing, The Grass is Singing, Martha Quest, A Proper Marriage, female protagonists, social identity, search for the self, male-female relationship, feminism, emancipation, race relations, white supremacy, social stereotypes, marriage, male-dominance, patriarchal society, gender hierarchies, human relations, the individual and the collective

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 28. 4. 2009

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 16. 6. 2009
• Supervisor: prof. Mgr. Milada Franková, CSc.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Philology / English Language and Literature