Lecture Notes: The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing

Introduction

Lecture Opening: Welcome to the 28th book in our reading series.
Book Being Discussed: The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing.
Agenda: Discussing the author, her awards, the book, its historical context, writing style, themes, and quotes.

Full Name: Doris May Taylor
Born: 1919, Iran
Family: Father was a bank clerk, mother a nurse; moved to Zimbabwe.
Education: Left school at 13, self-educated.
Career and Marriages: Took jobs in Salisbury (Harare), worked as a telephone operator and nursemaid.
Political Involvement: Abandoned marriages to pursue writing and socialist beliefs.
Move to London: 1949 with younger son Peter, left older children with their father.
Later Life: Anti-nuclear arms, anti-apartheid, surveillance by British Intelligence, turned to mystical and spiritual matters in later years (Sufism).
Death: 2013 at age 94

Nobel Prize in Literature (2007): Oldest winner at the time, 11th woman to win.
Other Honors: Declined Damehood, accepted Companion of Honor (1999), Companion of Literature by the Royal Society of Literature.

Genre: Gothic Horror Novel
Publication: First published in the UK in 1988.
Plot Overview: An attractive family with four children is shattered by the birth of the fifth child, described as a monstrous aberration.
Sequel: Ben, in the World published 12 years later, explores Ben's adulthood.
Themes: Inner grief, social disintegration, personal regrets.
Critics’ Interpretations: Politically or socially motivated readings which Lessing dismisses.

Setting: 1960s, amidst the sexual revolution and political movements but largely omitted in the novel.
Main Characters: Harriet and David seek a traditional family life against the contemporary cultural backdrop.
Societal Commentary: The Lavats’ seclusion from modern societal changes, focus on family isolation.

Drawn from Lessing’s Life: Reflections of her own feelings of motherhood, politics, and personal trauma.
Alienation and Home: Ben's banishment reflecting Lessing’s own sense of not belonging.
Motherhood Concept: Harriet's character as an ideal mother juxtaposed with Lessing’s regrets about her life choices.
Comparison to Other Works: Similarities with We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver, exploring themes of difficult motherhood and misunderstood children.

Overt vs. Covert Narrator: The overt narrator influences the reader’s judgment, particularly about characters like Ben and stepmother Jessica.
Reader’s Connection: Reader’s personal experiences can affect their perception of the narrative bias.

Sympathy for Ben: Feels Ben never got a chance due to the way he was treated by Harriet and society.
Different Views: Discussion on whether Ben was naturally problematic or a product of a neglectful family environment.
Participants’ Consensus: Varied opinions about the moral standpoint of Harriet and Ben’s upbringing.

On Handling Children: “You want things both ways...” – societal expectations vs. personal capability.
On Emotions: Highlights Harriet’s inner conflict and the isolation felt by her children.
Ben’s Perception: Descriptions of Ben trying to fit in, showing that he's misunderstood and possibly normal under other circumstances.

Book’s Complexity: No clear moral solution to the conflicts presented in the book.
Author’s Reflection: Lessing’s acknowledgment of writing from a place of deep personal trauma.

Consideration for Next Book: Group to decide on the next book for discussion.