Silent Subversion in a Woman on a Roof
Silent Subversion in A Woman On A Roof
Abstract
This paper centers on the unnamed woman sunbathing on the roof of her own, using her indifference and silence as rebellion toward the three men 's provocation working on another roof, trying to explore women 's subversion toward the gender bias and their self-consciousness raising in the society.
Key words: silence;indifference;rebellion;subversion
1. Introduction
Doris Lessing, the recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature, is described by the award committee as" that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilization to scrutiny". Her novel A Woman on A Roof depicts the life and culture of modern European life and is regarded as one of the twentieth century 's pivotal works of fiction speaking for women. A Woman on A Roof is a short story set in the early 1960’s in London. While repairing a roof during a scorching heat wave, three workmen spot an attractive woman sunbathing on a neighboring roof: Tom is 17 years old, shy, and impressionable; Stanley has recently married and is both shocked and attracted by the woman 's nakedness; Harry, who is married and has a son about Tom 's age, is 45 years old, tolerant and practical-minded. They take advantage of her privacy and start to blow wolf whistles to her though she appears indifferent to their harassment. The harassment goes on for the next seven days and during this time we see the men’s hatred for her increase due to her indifferent yet they are still excited at seeing her naked body day in day out. In the novel, the unnamed woman represents the new modern liberating women having fortune, leisure and taste to enjoy themselves at any time anywhere, which is quite against the traditional opinion many men always think of. Meanwhile, the three men working hard under the same sunshine belong to the low class. By comparing
Abstract
This paper centers on the unnamed woman sunbathing on the roof of her own, using her indifference and silence as rebellion toward the three men 's provocation working on another roof, trying to explore women 's subversion toward the gender bias and their self-consciousness raising in the society.
Key words: silence;indifference;rebellion;subversion
1. Introduction
Doris Lessing, the recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Literature, is described by the award committee as" that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilization to scrutiny". Her novel A Woman on A Roof depicts the life and culture of modern European life and is regarded as one of the twentieth century 's pivotal works of fiction speaking for women. A Woman on A Roof is a short story set in the early 1960’s in London. While repairing a roof during a scorching heat wave, three workmen spot an attractive woman sunbathing on a neighboring roof: Tom is 17 years old, shy, and impressionable; Stanley has recently married and is both shocked and attracted by the woman 's nakedness; Harry, who is married and has a son about Tom 's age, is 45 years old, tolerant and practical-minded. They take advantage of her privacy and start to blow wolf whistles to her though she appears indifferent to their harassment. The harassment goes on for the next seven days and during this time we see the men’s hatred for her increase due to her indifferent yet they are still excited at seeing her naked body day in day out. In the novel, the unnamed woman represents the new modern liberating women having fortune, leisure and taste to enjoy themselves at any time anywhere, which is quite against the traditional opinion many men always think of. Meanwhile, the three men working hard under the same sunshine belong to the low class. By comparing
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