MIRRORS, AGEING, AND THE FEMALE GAZE IN DORIS LESSING’S LOVE, AGAIN
MIRRORS, AGEING, AND THE FEMALE GAZE IN DORIS LESSING’S LOVE, AGAIN

Summary/Abstract: This paper explores the symbolic role of mirrors in Doris Lessing’s novel “Love, Again”, both to interrogate societal expectations regarding ageing and sexuality, and to emphasise the fragmented nature of human identity. Across literary traditions, the mirror has been associated with the idea of the construction of identity, and it has often functioned as a liminal space where the protagonists confront both their illusions and their realities. In “Love, Again”, Lessing employs the mirror symbol to depict the complexities of an older woman’s struggles while navigating love and desire. This symbol also aligns with feminist discourses, particularly those addressing the gaze, performativity, and gender roles according to age. Through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates cultural studies and feminist literary criticism, the paper calls attention to the fact that mirrors serve as sites of revelation and conflict between individual authenticity and social expectations that promote rigid structures regarding female identity and desirability.

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