Question

In at least one hundred words, identify a piece of background information from either the New York Times article "Doris Lessing Wins Nobel Prize in Literature" or the "Doris Lessing" biographical video that is helpful in understanding the context of "Through the Tunnel." Explain how the information is helpful.

Answer 1

In the article "Doris Lessing Wins Nobel Prize in Literature," we learn a little about Lessing's childhood and youth. We learn that she was born in Persia, but moved to Zimbabwe when still very young. We also learn that she moved to Salisbury when she was 15, and that she took jobs as a telephone operator and nursemaid. She married at 19 and had two children, and then left her family. Moreover, we learn that she described her childhood as "sad."

All of this information allows us to better understand the context of "Through the Tunnel." In this story, the characters are British people in an unfamiliar, foreign environment. This resembles Lessing's early life and that of her family. Moreover, the main character of the story, Jerry, undergoes an important transformation in his life as the tunnel becomes a rite of passage for him. We learn that Lessing was also a teenager when she went through many of the transformative experiences of her life. This shows that Lessing understands the importance of rites of passage to reaching maturity and adulthood.

Answer 2

“Through the Tunnel” is a coming-of-age story of Jerry, who wants to do what the other grown-up men can do, and his mother, who does not want to look too ‘possessive nor lacking in devotion’ knowing that her son is going through adolescence. Swimming through the tunnel is Jerry’s way to establish his identity or go through character adjustments. From the New York Times article “Doris Lessing Wins Nobel Prize in Literature”, it can be noted that Doris Lessing is a writer described as “that epicist of the female experience, who with skepticism, fire and visionary power…” by the Swedish academy. Her struggle when she was 15-year-old and a runaway from home must have also reflected the struggle of Jerry proving that he can swim through the tunnel.