The novel “The Grass is Singing” is a story of a failed marriage.

Answer

The novel “The Grass is Singing” is a story of a failed marriage. Discuss. [NU: 2019]

Doris Lessing’s (1919–2013) “The Grass is Singing” (1950) is a powerful novel about broken lives. At the centre is the marriage of Mary and Dick Turner. Their marriage begins in fear. It continues in misunderstanding. It grows bitter in poverty. It ends in loneliness and death. The story shows how two weak people destroy each other in marriage.

The Unhappy Marriage: Mary Turner is happy in town. She works, plays games, and has many friends. At thirty, she hears gossip. Her friends laugh at her childish clothes and single life. They say,

‘‘She’s not fifteen any longer: it is ridiculous! Someone should tell her about her clothes.’’

She becomes restless. She thinks, perhaps they are right. Perhaps she must marry. So she becomes engaged with a 55-year-old man (Widower). But for the old man’s sexual proposal, Mary refuses to marry him. Then, she meets Dick Turner. He is lonely and poor. He wants a wife to help him. He wants children. Mary wants to escape from gossip. So, she accepts his proposal quickly. Lessing writes, 

“They were married by special licence two weeks later.” 

This marriage is not made of love. It is born of fear and need. From the start, it is weak.

Mary’s Dissatisfaction after Marriage: Dick loves farming. He often says that the farm will succeed. He dreams of building a big thatched house. But the farm fails again and again. Mary does not like his dream. She hates the veld. She loves the town. She thinks, 

“It is bad enough living in a pigsty like this.” 

She wants comfort, clean ceilings, and a social life. Dick feels guilty for not giving her comfort. Mary feels cheated for living in poverty. They want different lives. Distance grows between them.

Financial Struggles after Marriage: The Turners are very poor. Dick’s farm is always in debt. He