“She loved the town, felt safe there, and associated the country with her childhood”,-Explain
The Grass Is Singing is a notable literary work by Doris Lessing. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of The Grass Is Singing.
Answer
“She loved the town, felt safe there, and associated the country with her childhood, because of those little drops she had lived in, and the way they were all surrounded by miles and miles of nothingness miles and miles of veld.”- Explain.
In this quote from Doris Lessing‘s (1919-2013) novel “The Grass is Singing,” the author explores the complex relationship the protagonist, Mary Turner, has with her surroundings, specifically the town and the countryside.
First, “She loved the town” indicates that Mary genuinely feels affection for the urban environment. The town supplies her with a sense of security and comfort. It is a place where she likely feels connected to the community and has a sense of belonging. This contrasts with the loneliness and isolation she experiences in other settings.
The phrase “felt safe there” highlights the town’s importance in providing Mary with safety. This might be due to the presence of other people, the acquaintance of the surroundings, or a sense of order and predictability. The sentence then delves into Mary’s company in the countryside with her childhood. In this context, the countryside represents her early years and the “little drops” or fragments of her past.
These “little drops” could be memories, experiences, or even people from her childhood. However, the countryside is also portrayed as an extended stretch of “nothingness” and “veld,” which can be seen as a barren, desolate landscape. This suggests ambivalence in Mary’s feelings toward her childhood and the rural environment. While she associates it with her past, it is also characterized by emptiness and isolation.
In nature, this quote reveals Mary Turner’s complex emotional landscape. She loves the safety and comfort of the town but also feels a deep connection to her rural upbringing, even though it is associated with a sense of emptiness and isolation. It highlights the internal conflict and nostalgia that shape her character throughout the novel.