An Ideological Reading on Doris Lessing ’ s The Fifth Child

An Ideological Reading on Doris Lessing’s The Fifth Child Sophia Hsu 2002/11/5

An Ideological Reading on Doris Lessing’s The Fifth Child • Problems David and Harriet face • Different aspects of lives represented • When Victorian ideology encounters Capitalist ideology • Conclusion

Problems David and Harriet face • Living in a Victorian house • Having a lot of children • Feeling criticized as criminals by their families

Problems David and Harriet Face • Living in a Victorian house • They are not able to pay for the mortgage • “How are we going to pay for it all if I am pregnant?” (p.16) • James and Jessica would be asked for help • “I shall assume responsibility for the mortgage” (p.20) • The maintenance of the household

Problems David and Harriet Face • Having a lot of children • The cost of raising children • “Children…no one who hasn’t had them knows what work they make.” (p.18) • “She knew the cost, in every way, of a family, even a small one.” (p.21) • Their education

Problems David and Harriet face • Feeling criticized as criminals by their families • “For at such times, when material support is not enough, it is as if we are being judged: Harriet and David seemed to themselves meagre and inadequate, with nothing to hold on to but stubborn beliefs other people had always judged as wrong-headed.” (p,17) • “We aren’t made to feel criminals.” (p,22)

Different aspects of lives represented • Molly and Frederick • James and Jessica • Dorothy • David and Harriet

Different aspects of lives represented: Molly and Frederick David’s mother and step-father: his English parents • Had little money, being unambitious academics (p,17) • “Aiming, like all their kinds, at an appearance of unconformity, they were in face the essence of convention, and disliked any manifestation of the spirit of exaggeration, of excess.” (p,18) • They represent most judging English people.

Different aspects of lives represented: James and Jessica • David’s father and step-mother • See everything materially • “The house is a good investment.” (p,19) • “This ease with money characterized their life together, which David had sampled and rejected fiercely.” (p,20) • “Flash and too easy, that was the life of the rich.” (p,20)

Different aspects of lives represented: Dorothy • Harriet’s mother: a widow, having three daughters • Represents the conservative family life • “She had not found it easy bringing up three girls…. She knew the cost, in every way, of a family, even a small one.” (p, 21)

Different aspects of lives represented: David and Harriet • Reckless young couple, trying to live a life they can’t afford. Seemed to represent the spirit of exaggeration and excess. • They long for a “real family life” • “Harriet and David seemed to themselves meagre and inadequate, with nothing to hold on to but stubborn beliefs other people had always judged as wrong-headed.” (p,17) • When facing Molly and Frederick, they feel themselves “even more preposterously eccentric, and much too young.” (p,17) • They are going to be beholden to the life of the rich. (p,20) • “You two go on as if you believe if you don’t grab everything, then you’ll lose it.” (p,22)

When Victorian ideology encounters Capitalist ideology • Victorian Ideology • Capitalist Ideology

Victorian Ideology: represented by David and Harriet • David and Harriet seem to represent the aspect of life against common ideology. • Seemingly retreat to Victorian/Capitalist value • They think they should’ve been born into another country: having six children would be normal, nothing shocking about –they aren’t made to feel criminals. They want to have children while they can. (p,22,23) • They think they are the ones who are abnormal in Europe. (p.22) • They want things both ways. (p.23)

Capitalist ideology: represented by people in the middle • Money determines everything: qualified parents, decent life, good education • The aristocracy can have children like rabbits, and expect to, but they have the money for it. (p,23) • Poor people can have children, and half of them die, and expect to. (p,23) • People like us, in the middle, we have to be careful about the children we have so we can look after them. (p,23)

Questions and Conclusion • Which ideology is better/correct? • Can people simply retreat to one ideology against another one? • Is the belief/ideology David and Harriet hold on to coming from the rejection to common belief/ideology? • Ideology is the production of production

An Ideological Reading on Doris Lessing ’ s The Fifth Child