Analysis of the Causes of Mary’s Tragic Fate in The Grass is Singing from the Perspective of Postcolonial Feminism

Abstract

In The Grass is Singing, Doris Lessing describes Mary as a repressed figure in a patriarchal society, which contains profound reflections on the relationship between women and gender discrimination as well as racial problems. The existing studies explore the reasons for Mary’s tragic fate from various perspectives. However, most of the previous studies concentrated on the anti-patriarchy theme by unfolding the female’s anguish and misery. Few studies paid attention to the tragedy of the Other and the reversal of this identity. Consequently, this paper analyzes the novel from the perspective of postcolonial feminism and employs “the Other” theory to probe into the influence of gender and racial discrimination on the destiny of the character, revealing the root of Mary’s tragedy. The detailed study of Mary’s tragedy aims to represent her life and ends with a profound meditation on human beings. It can not only emphasize the significance of achieving female subjectivity but also indicate possibilities for women to consciously participate in society and create their own social values.