寻找失去的自我——评莱辛《黑暗前的夏天》

Looking for the Sost Self——Comments on Lessing′s“The Summer before the Dark”

《黑暗前的夏天》是一部反映中年女性生存困境的小说。凯特在婚姻中像一个被关在牢笼的囚徒,失去了自我。她像机器一样被设定为母亲、妻子角色。母亲角色带有强制性,是一种异化的体验,使凯特的自我被异化。凯特的职业也是家庭角色的延伸,依然是附属的服务型的工作。凯特探寻自我的途径,一是对婚姻说不;二是摆脱他者的眼光。凯特寻找自我的过程非常艰难,她的回家更显现出女性处境的悲剧意味,但是,凯特已在精神上寻找回了全新的自我。

＂The summer before the dark＂is a novel reflecting middle-aged women′s survival plight.Kate in the marriage lost self and was like a prisoner being held in prison.She was assigned the roles of the mother and wife.The role of mother with a mandatory is a kind of experience of alienation.So Kate′s self was alienated.Kate′s career is an extension of the roles of the family,and still an affiliated service work.Kate looked for the lost self in two ways：to say no to marriage and to get rid of others′eyes.It is very difficult for Kate to look for the lost self,and her going to home suggest the tragedy of women′s survival situation;however,Kate has found the new self spiritually.