Speaker
Description
At the centre of Doris Lessing’s (1919–2013) novel The Fifth Child (1988) lies a profound crisis that disrupts both familial harmony and narrative structure. The birth of the Lovatt family’s fifth child—portrayed as abnormal and threatening—triggers a series of conflicts that reshape the trajectory of the story. From this moment onward, the narrative focuses on how this disruption unfolds and whether it can be reconciled. The child, described in monstrous terms, emerges as a symbol of social and familial deviation, challenging both the couple’s idealized family life and the norms that underpin it. This paper argues that The Fifth Child critiques the societal and familial failure to acknowledge individual differences, especially when these differences deviate from perceived norms. The father’s conservative outlook—reinforced by the broader social circle—eventually influences the mother’s stance, resulting in the child’s forced removal. However, despite external pressures, maternal love and care prove to be resilient. It is ultimately the mother’s unwavering emotional bond that leads to the child’s return and gradual reintegration into the family. In this light, motherhood is depicted not merely as a biological role but as a redemptive force—restoring emotional order, reconfiguring the narrative structure, and enabling the family to accept otherness.
| Keywords | motherhood, crisis, individual differences, The Fifth Child, Doris Lessing |
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| nnayebpour@agri.edu.tr |