Suicide In Doris Lessing's To Room Nineteen By Doris Lessing

I plan to argue “To Room Nineteen” by Doris Lessing in the field of psychology and its effect on women’s lives, stating that the cause of suicide for Ms. Dubois is not because of the social judgments and perception negatively that affected Susan’s domestic responsibilities but rather the lack of emotion within her life and her relationship with her husband, because she could live up to the ideals valued by culture and beliefs but deep down she married for the benefit of others and no love in their relationship or with her children.Traditionally in the mid twentieth century, women held various duties that were crucial to keep their households intact. Most have sacrificed much of their freedom and independence to nourish their family. Women were

Except that forgiveness is hardly the word.”(2761) She try to push this problem behind so that she would not have face the chaos of her marriage. “Charting the failure of communication and later decline of love.” (Janina Nordius) Matthew and Susan’s relationship begins to slowly deteriorate as lies and deceit plies in their marriage. These are all factors that gives to Susan’s aspiration for solitude, so that she can get away from all the tension and hassles. Susan’s pursuit for peacefulness and isolation is driving her mad since she is always surrounded by overwhelming commotion. Mrs. Parkes, the housekeeper, is constantly asking for Susan’s approval for everything that she does. Her hesitations and uncertainties especially aggravate Susan because she feels like people are always depending her on every little issue. “She was planning how to be somewhere where Mrs. Parkes would not come after her with a cup of tea, or a demand to be allowed to telephone (always irritating Susan did not care who she telephoned or how often), or just a nice talk about something.”(2765-2766) This is one of the reasons why Susan have an eager craving for loneliness. Also Sophie, the Rawlings’ household worker, replaced Susan’s position in the

For instance, Susan has developed an imagery evil demon haunting her garden. The demon represents her suffering and misery inhibiting her to obtain her freedom. “He is lurking in the garden and sometimes even in the house, and he wants to get into me and to take me over.”(2768) Once she was in Fred’s hotel room, the demon was gone. But when Matthew discovered her going to Freud’s hotel and assumes that she has cheated on him, the demon returns to visit her. Also the snake in her garden characterizes her dual personality. “the illusion symbolized that her schizophrenic psyche had been on the verge of corruption.”(Wang and Wen) Susan’s psychological conditions worsen as she starts to visualize snakes lingering her garden. Still when she brushes her hair it makes hissing noises similar to a snake signifies her illness is getting more severe. In addition, the mirror in her room signifies that her schizophrenia symptoms are getting critical. “Yet that’s the reflection of a madwoman. How very strange!”(2771-2772) Her other self is representing her bitterness and resentment. These are distresses that Susan is experiencing because of pressure put upon