A Literary Analysis Of Lessing's Through The Tunnel
Literary Analysis of Lessing’s “Through the Tunnel” Throughout life, certain events may lead up to a point of maturity or jump start one’s gradual coming of age. In Doris Lessing’s “Through the Tunnel,” the idea that certain circumstances cause the development of maturity is exemplified through a young, English child named Jerry. Lessing uses symbolism and Jerry’s conflict to augment the story’s theme --coming of age. Throughout the story, Lessing uses symbolism to corroborate the theme of coming of age. For example, Lessing paints a picture of a “wild and rocky bay” that captures Jerry’s growing curiosity (Lessing 1). The bay symbolizes wild, adventurous moments in life that might cause someone to mature. In this story, the bay is contrasted by the “safe beach,” which symbolizes familiarity and life’s
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comforting moments, such as childhood (Lessing 1).
The contrast between the beach and the bay is a perfect analogy to Jerry’s battle between safety and risk. While at the bay, Jerry stumbles across a group of native boys, and his desire “to be with them, of them, was a craving that filled his whole body” (Lessing 2). In the story, Lessing uses the native boys to symbolize the human desire to “fit in” and the idea of conformity. Another example of symbolism in the story is the goggles that Jerry demanded from his mother (Lessing 3). The goggles represent a newly gained perspective of life. In the text, Lessing uses the following quote to explain the goggles: “Now he could see. It was like he had eyes of a different kind – fish eyes that showed everything clear and delicate in the wavering white water” (3). On the other hand, Kathleen Wilson, editor of Short Stories for Students, says, “he risk his life, but does so while wearing swimming goggles, which are symbolic of both his inexperience and his need for protection” (246). Along with Wilson, Kate Holleran, an instructor at Robert Morris College and a writer on literary
subjects, says, “Once he purchased the goggles, he assumes a whole new identity…” (252). Holleran’s analysis of the story focuses on the ideas of coming of age and Jerry comprehending his identity; therefore, she furthers the claim that Lessing uses the goggles to develop the theme. These examples of symbolism, along with others, help define the story’s theme by building imagery of Jerry’s character and his circumstances.
Not only does symbolism help develop the theme, but Lessing also uses conflict to enhance the story’s main message. In the beginning of the story, Jerry is described as an eleven year old English boy, who is fatherless (Lessing 1). Given Jerry’s circumstances, it is reasonable to assume that he is a child with separation anxiety. Though Jerry shows curiosity towards wild bay, he is hesitant to leave his mother’s sight. In the text, Lessing states that “contrition sent him running after her. And yet, as he ran, he looked back over his shoulder at the wild bay; and all morning, as he played on the safe beach, he was thinking of it” (1). Jerry’s relationship with his mother is poor, because she lacks wisdom and self-confidence in how to raise her son by herself (Lessing 1). Kate Holleran, made a good point when saying, “As often as he tries to avoid her, she is still his safety zone as he looks for her for silent strength…” (251). Jerry’s attitude in the beginning of the story is one of loneliness and alienation; therefore, “Lessing also explores total isolation that the reader and Jerry experiences, as he struggles to find his own identity” (Holleran 250). Kathleen Wilson makes a great point when stating, “Jerry is desperate for attention, yet he leaves the beach where his mother and other tourists can be found. His loneliness is self- imposed” (246). Not only does Jerry impose this loneliness on himself, but he chooses to overcome it by swimming through “loneliest place imaginable-- the dark tunnel…” (246). Jerry would have never found the tunnel if he was not rejected by the teenage, native boys. When the boys became uninterested in Jerry after seeing his inability to dive deep, Jerry noticed that “they were leaving to get away from him. He cried openly, fists in his eyes. There was no one to see him, and he cried himself out” (Lessing 3). In this instance, Jerry has no one, and “he does discover that no matter how badly he wants to ‘fit in,’ in the end, it is up to him. He must find a way to transform into an adult by himself” (Holleran 251). Here, Jerry starts to condition himself to hold his breath long enough to swim through the dangerous tunnel (Lessing 3-6). Because of the conflicts that Jerry faces, he reaches the point that sparks his coming of age.
After reading Doris Lessing’s “Through the Tunnel,” readers can infer that the main character undergoes development. At first, Jerry is hesitant to leave his mother's sight. In fact, once Jerry asks his mother to go to the bay, she questioned herself if he was old enough to be safe on his own (Lessing 1). His mother let him venture the bay, and as a result “breaking away from his mother allows Jerry to explore and challenge himself” (Wilson 246). Then after he ventures on his own and starts to find his new identity, he conditioned himself to swim through the tunnel, which causes him to overcome his fears and instills in him a “curious, most unchildlike persistence…” (Lessing 4). Jerry begins to transform into an adult. Once Jerry accomplishes his goal of swimming through the tunnel, he establishes a new sense of priority and does not tell his mother what he accomplished (Lessing 6). It is as though establishes a sense of determination that inspires him to “do the impossible, which is to swim down where the older boys swim and emerge a man…” (Holleran 250). Kathleen Wilson gives insight on Jerry’s development by saying, “Jerry establishes his maturity through his diligence, daring, and patience and expresses it in a conventional masculine form: through physical challenge” (246). At the end of the story, the theme of the story is illustrated when Lessing says, “She was ready for a battle of wills, but he gave in at once. It was no longer of the least importance to go to the bay” (Lessing 6). Swimming through the tunnel is undoubtedly the point in which Jerry starts to develop into a different person and which Jerry finds himself, so to speak.
In conclusion, Lessing uses conflict and deep symbolic meanings to not only enhance the short story, but to also define the story’s theme. Following the story, one can infer that events can lead to a complex development of character. Doris Lessing illustrates how striving to seek success, overcoming fear, and pursuing identity can alter a person’s life completely. Though Jerry is a fictional character, readers can grasp a sense of inspiration based of Jerry’s gradual coming of age.
comforting moments, such as childhood (Lessing 1).
The contrast between the beach and the bay is a perfect analogy to Jerry’s battle between safety and risk. While at the bay, Jerry stumbles across a group of native boys, and his desire “to be with them, of them, was a craving that filled his whole body” (Lessing 2). In the story, Lessing uses the native boys to symbolize the human desire to “fit in” and the idea of conformity. Another example of symbolism in the story is the goggles that Jerry demanded from his mother (Lessing 3). The goggles represent a newly gained perspective of life. In the text, Lessing uses the following quote to explain the goggles: “Now he could see. It was like he had eyes of a different kind – fish eyes that showed everything clear and delicate in the wavering white water” (3). On the other hand, Kathleen Wilson, editor of Short Stories for Students, says, “he risk his life, but does so while wearing swimming goggles, which are symbolic of both his inexperience and his need for protection” (246). Along with Wilson, Kate Holleran, an instructor at Robert Morris College and a writer on literary
subjects, says, “Once he purchased the goggles, he assumes a whole new identity…” (252). Holleran’s analysis of the story focuses on the ideas of coming of age and Jerry comprehending his identity; therefore, she furthers the claim that Lessing uses the goggles to develop the theme. These examples of symbolism, along with others, help define the story’s theme by building imagery of Jerry’s character and his circumstances.
Not only does symbolism help develop the theme, but Lessing also uses conflict to enhance the story’s main message. In the beginning of the story, Jerry is described as an eleven year old English boy, who is fatherless (Lessing 1). Given Jerry’s circumstances, it is reasonable to assume that he is a child with separation anxiety. Though Jerry shows curiosity towards wild bay, he is hesitant to leave his mother’s sight. In the text, Lessing states that “contrition sent him running after her. And yet, as he ran, he looked back over his shoulder at the wild bay; and all morning, as he played on the safe beach, he was thinking of it” (1). Jerry’s relationship with his mother is poor, because she lacks wisdom and self-confidence in how to raise her son by herself (Lessing 1). Kate Holleran, made a good point when saying, “As often as he tries to avoid her, she is still his safety zone as he looks for her for silent strength…” (251). Jerry’s attitude in the beginning of the story is one of loneliness and alienation; therefore, “Lessing also explores total isolation that the reader and Jerry experiences, as he struggles to find his own identity” (Holleran 250). Kathleen Wilson makes a great point when stating, “Jerry is desperate for attention, yet he leaves the beach where his mother and other tourists can be found. His loneliness is self- imposed” (246). Not only does Jerry impose this loneliness on himself, but he chooses to overcome it by swimming through “loneliest place imaginable-- the dark tunnel…” (246). Jerry would have never found the tunnel if he was not rejected by the teenage, native boys. When the boys became uninterested in Jerry after seeing his inability to dive deep, Jerry noticed that “they were leaving to get away from him. He cried openly, fists in his eyes. There was no one to see him, and he cried himself out” (Lessing 3). In this instance, Jerry has no one, and “he does discover that no matter how badly he wants to ‘fit in,’ in the end, it is up to him. He must find a way to transform into an adult by himself” (Holleran 251). Here, Jerry starts to condition himself to hold his breath long enough to swim through the dangerous tunnel (Lessing 3-6). Because of the conflicts that Jerry faces, he reaches the point that sparks his coming of age.
After reading Doris Lessing’s “Through the Tunnel,” readers can infer that the main character undergoes development. At first, Jerry is hesitant to leave his mother's sight. In fact, once Jerry asks his mother to go to the bay, she questioned herself if he was old enough to be safe on his own (Lessing 1). His mother let him venture the bay, and as a result “breaking away from his mother allows Jerry to explore and challenge himself” (Wilson 246). Then after he ventures on his own and starts to find his new identity, he conditioned himself to swim through the tunnel, which causes him to overcome his fears and instills in him a “curious, most unchildlike persistence…” (Lessing 4). Jerry begins to transform into an adult. Once Jerry accomplishes his goal of swimming through the tunnel, he establishes a new sense of priority and does not tell his mother what he accomplished (Lessing 6). It is as though establishes a sense of determination that inspires him to “do the impossible, which is to swim down where the older boys swim and emerge a man…” (Holleran 250). Kathleen Wilson gives insight on Jerry’s development by saying, “Jerry establishes his maturity through his diligence, daring, and patience and expresses it in a conventional masculine form: through physical challenge” (246). At the end of the story, the theme of the story is illustrated when Lessing says, “She was ready for a battle of wills, but he gave in at once. It was no longer of the least importance to go to the bay” (Lessing 6). Swimming through the tunnel is undoubtedly the point in which Jerry starts to develop into a different person and which Jerry finds himself, so to speak.
In conclusion, Lessing uses conflict and deep symbolic meanings to not only enhance the short story, but to also define the story’s theme. Following the story, one can infer that events can lead to a complex development of character. Doris Lessing illustrates how striving to seek success, overcoming fear, and pursuing identity can alter a person’s life completely. Though Jerry is a fictional character, readers can grasp a sense of inspiration based of Jerry’s gradual coming of age.