Subversion of Normalcy in Doris Lessing's The Fifth Child

Abstract

DorisLessing'sThe Fifth Childtries to reveal the conventions of social norms and values that are human constructions so they can be built and rebuilt in society. Every society has fixed social discourses which are guided by power. Power paves the way to truth, truth changes when power changes. Power is at the centre and builds different norms and values; they are neither true nor false in themselves. If anything happens out of social discourse, there might be upheaval in society. Society creates certain identities while she/he is living. These certain identities are ruled by power and truth. Society begins its power after birth over his/her existence. As a result, we see that ugly, deaf or abnormal children are put out from the society. They think that abnormal children have no lives and are burden of societies. So, our duty is to liberate and secure their lives. Abnormal children arenot themselves faulty because we are made to think so. We are afraid of normalcy. We should bind normal hands to abnormal hands and stay in single society. Our social spectacles should be changed and we should behave normally to these abnormal ones. Normalcy is each and every society should be subverted and it should be brought in the mainstream of contemporary society. Every person has right to live in his/her societies and he/ she is judged biologically not socially. Social truths are always dangerous forhuman existence.