The Other Woman by Doris Lessing as an Endeavor to Reach Universal Feminism and to Establish Subjective and Individual Integrity Cover Image

Öznel ve Bireysel Bütünlüğü Yakalama ve Evrensel Feminizme Ulaşma Çabası Olarak Doris Lessing’in Öteki Kadın Adlı Öyküsü
The Other Woman by Doris Lessing as an Endeavor to Reach Universal Feminism and to Establish Subjective and Individual Integrity

Author(s): Abdulhalim Aydin
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Other Language Literature
Published by: Namık Kemal Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi
Keywords: Doris Lessing; The Other Woman; feminism; existentialism; individualization;

Summary/Abstract: Feminist approach and the endeavor to reach existential integrity are the two basic elements comprising Lessing’s aesthetics. Her feminism is located beyond populist feminism as a fashion trend. With a unique feminist approach, she emphasizes ‘the women rights’ with a realistic attitude. Author’s search for subjective identity and individual integrity is formed around establishing existentialist identity structure. In most of her stories, the reader witnesses the struggle of the individual- mostly women to become ‘self’ despite the role imposed upon. This struggle can be summarized as establishing and reestablishing of the character’s subjective, individual and sexual identities by realization process. The subject of this study The Other Woman represents a similar attitude. Starting with her mother’s death, the individualization process of Rose – born in a patriarchal society and family- passes through absurdity feeling, existence’s becoming meaninglessness, the depreciation of life, selfalienation, paradoxical and inconsistent attitudes.

  • Issue Year: 6/2018
  • Issue No: 12
  • Page Range: 65-77
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Turkish