Class Conflict in Doris Lessing's The Grass is Singing

Abstract

In this research, Doris Lessing's novelThe Grass is Singingis examined through Marxist perspective. The novel deals with the problem of dialectical relationship between two different classes: working class and middle class. Mary Turner, the protagonist of the novel represents the middle class whereas other workers represent the working class. There is a conflict between husband and wife representing two different socio-economic conditions. Mary Turner, the wife, represents the modern city life, whereas Dick Turner, the husband, represents the traditional rural life. Since they are from two different socio-economic conditions their interests, choices, ideas, perceptions, thoughts never match with each other. As a result, there is always conflict between them which is not only a familial conflict but a class-conflict.