Short Review: In The National Gallery By Doris Lessing

Memories consist of brief moments in a person’s life, which is stored away in the mind as a picture, movie, smell or even just a sound. If it was visibly to others, it would mean nothing, but to the exact person that experienced the memory, it is a hidden treasure. A treasure chest in the back of one’s head that can be opened, and reveal one’s entire life of beautiful and untouched memories. The question is just, if it is always such a good idea, to dwell at the memories. The short story; “In the National Gallery” by Doris Lessing, is processing the three ages in ones live; past, future and presence, through the eyes of an first person narrator. Through the narrators experience we discover, that living in the past can have great consequences. As one once said, “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. ”

The story starts in medias res, when the narrator is explaining an introducing the setting. He or she is in

The narrator is completely passive until the man in his sixties address himself. As if the narrator was a “fly on the wall”, he or she observes other people and narrate their story from his/her point of view. It is especially clear, when the older man follows the French girl, and the narrator comments; “Oh no, I was thinking, he simply must not try and talk to her, attract her attention, impose himself.” This type of narration is used to give the reader access to his or her mind, thoughts and emotions. It is also easily getting relatable, because nouns as “I” and “we” are used in this narration. It makes it easier for the reader to make a connection emotional connection to the character. As good as this narration is, there is also a downside. The narrator is filtering information and events through the narrator’s perspective and it is therefore not always truly