What Is Lessing's Use Of Figurative Language In Through The Tunnel

“It is through symbols that man consciously or unconsciously lives, works and has his being.” (Thomas Carlyle). Symbolism is used all around the world. This is a way to communicate beyond the limits and explain some things in a whole new different way. The author Doris Lessing uses this type of figurative language in her story “Through the Tunnel”. This is particularly evident in the settings such as the beach, the bay and the tunnel, which represent different stages in life.

The beach is the first setting presented in the story. This represents Jerry´s or anyone´s childhood. This is illustrated when Doris states, “Once he saw that his mother had gained her beach, he began the steep descent to the bay” (pg.1). This shows that the beach is constantly referred as the mother´s so this evidence that it was a safe place where he was going to be protected. The author also tells us that this setting was well known by Jerry, which was getting boring for him. For example where it says, “Looked down at a wild and rocky bay, and then over the crowded beach he knew so well from other years”. (pg. 1). This creates the impression that the boy is getting wearied of the
This is shown when Lessing describes the place as, “ wild and rocky” (pg. 1). Wild means all the crazy and sometimes not understandable things that people go through in this stage. Rocky represents the problems that children have to face, which include both, physical and emotional. While Jerry was swimming here, he experienced peer pressure by other kids that were also there. This is evidenced when she says, “And now, in a panic of failure, he yelled up in English, “Look at me! Look!” and he began splashing and kicking in the water like a foolish dog”. This proves that Jerry was desperate for attention and acceptance to the point of being humiliated by his actions. Peer pressure is something many people have to overcome during this period of