Perspectives

This part of the study guide adds a few extra points to the analysis of “Through the Tunnel” by Doris Lessing, helping you put the story in a wider perspective.

Literary period

Doris Lessing had a long and fruitful writing career and is associated with various literary movements, including Modernism, Postmodernism, and Feminism. Given that “Through the Tunnel” was written when Postmodernism was only beginning to develop, the story has more modernist features.

For example, Lessing focuses on the characters and their point of view and includes realistic detailed descriptions; these are both features that are associated with Modernism. The fact that the story also focuses on the main character’s psychology by conveying his thoughts and his emotions is also a Modernist feature.

As a literary movement, Feminism promotes equal gender rights and draws attention to women’s rights or when these rights are not respected. The feminist aspect in the short story is that Jerry’s mother is a widow and raises her son on her own, trying to give him the independence he needs.

Works by the same author

To gain a broader understanding on the author’...