Abstract: As the most influential female writer of Britain in the 20th century, Doris Lessing presents the concept of “Free Women” in her masterpiece, The Golden Notebook. She trys to figure out how could free women pursue for self-identity and independence when facing frustrating situations consisted of war, race fight, politic crisis, sex liberation and massive changes of sexual relations and morals. The thesis makes analysis of the free woman from three aspects. The first part is a brief introduction to the writer Doris Lessing and the content of the novel The Golden Notebook. The second part is the interpretation of the free women’s life. By analyzing the protagonist, Anna’s four-colour notebooks, Lessing draws us a picture of the free women’s seeking for independence and self-idetity, and discloses the authentic predicament of the free women. Through the interpretation of Anna’s emotional, professional and political life, the thesis illustrates the authentic predicament of the free women. In the third part, with inspirations and help from others, the free women resort to self-healing by the redefinition and selection of way of life.

 By means of the above-mentioned, the thesis emphasizes the feminine viewpoint of Doris Lessing: It is not the final victory between men and women but the better self-understanding and untiring pursuit for freedom and self-identity that brings peace and harmony.

Keywords: Doris Lessing  The Golden Notebook  Women  Self-identity  Predicament

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Introduction to Doris Lessing-1

1.2 Introduction To The Golden Notebook-1

Chapter Two Pursuit of Free Women-3

2.1 Economic Independence-3

2.2 Freedom of Political Belief-4

2.3 Freedom of Emotional Life-4

Chapter Three Loss of Self-identity-6

3.1 Professional Anxieties-6

3.1.1 Suspicion on Fiction and Reality-6

3.1.2 Blocked Creativity-6

3.2 Disillusionment of Political Ideal-7

3.3 Dilemma of Emotional Life-8

3.3.1 Crippling Marriage-8

3.3.2 Relations between Free Women and Their Children-9

Chapter Four Self-healing of Free Women-10

4.1 Mental-healing of Free Women-10

4.2 Reconstruction of Identity-10

Chapter Five Conclusion-12

References-13