Character Analysis: Through The Tunnel By Doris Lessing

Growing up is a difficult process that everyone experiences. Although childhood innocence is lost, knowledge is gained from maturing. Maturing involves significant lessons that include accepting oneself, coping with betrayal, and finding one’s voice.

An essential lesson in growing up is being able to accept oneself. Self- acceptance is being pleased with oneself; not caring about other people’s opinions. If children do not learn accept themselves, then they will never be able to truly mature. For example, in the short story Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing the protagonist, Jerry, yearns to be like the older boys. He is juvenile, seeking to fit in; wanting to be approved by the them. He is persistent to prove to them that he can make it
Adult society believes they are steering the younger generation in the right direction. But, in actuality, they do not realize they model the hypocritical behavior instead of resolving it. For example, in the novel Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, a group of young British boys are stranded on an island and become primitive. In the resolution of the novel, a naval officer rescues the young boys and criticizes them. It is ironic to see that a man who leads barbaric war dares to censure these children who “should have put up a better show” ( Golding 202) when he is no better. This demonstrates that adults in society and not aware of their faults. Although they condition the younger generation from right and wrong, they are hypocrites. They carp at the younger generation for making mistakes when they are not perfect themselves. When children mature they opens their eyes to the realization to adult society. They react by trusting their own judgement; not conforming to the adult society that betrays
Using one’s voice is being able to speak out against injustice. People who strongly values their ideals, are not fearful about what society thinks about them. They find the courage to rebel against those who infringe against their values. For instance, in greek play Antigone, by Sophocles, the protagonist Antigone speaks against Creon’s decree for not burying her brother Polyneices; proclaiming him as a traitor. Outraged with this injustice, she defies the king, and buries her brother. She is selfless; wanting to protect him, even after death. She does not hesitant to stand up for what she believes in even though the penalty is her own life. Antigone feels she has moral obligation to rebel against Creon because “her brother lie unburied would cause her grief” (Sophocles 93). And although in Creon’s eyes her actions are deemed as foolish, she is mature for being able find her voice. This indicates people who are mature are not afraid to be judged by others who deride their values. They fight for a cause that does not only protect their rights, but also the rights of others. They are passionate and have altruistic desires to protect values they feel are being infringed upon. Unlike the story The Lottery, by Shirley Jackson, the protagonist Tessie, is selfish, hypocritical, and only speaks out against the system when it personally affects her. She blindly follows the outdated tradition of the