The Grass Is Singing

Doris Lessing’s The Grass Is Singing (1950) is a powerful work of Commonwealth literature that explores colonialism, racial tensions, gender oppression, and psychological disintegration in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). The novel is a critique of British imperialism and the deep racial divide in Africa under colonial rule.

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1. Introduction

The Grass Is Singing is Doris Lessing’s debut novel, set in Southern Rhodesia during the 1940s. It tells the tragic story of Mary Turner, a white woman trapped in a loveless marriage, struggling with poverty and her prejudices in a racially segregated society. The novel begins with the news of Mary’s murder by her Black servant, Moses, and then traces the events that led to her downfall.

About the Author:

Doris Lessing was a British-Zimbabwean author widely regarded as one of the most influential and provocative writers of the 20th century. She was born on October 22, 1919, in Kermanshah, Persia (now Iran), and she grew up in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), where her experiences of colonial life, racial injustice, and gender inequality deeply influenced her writing. Lessing left school at the age of 14 but was largely self-educated, becoming an avid reader and thinker. Over her long and prolific career, she explored a range of themes including politics, psychology, feminism, colonialism, and social change, often challenging traditional norms and literary styles.

Works :

1. Her breakthrough came with the publication of her first novel, The Grass Is Singing (1950), a powerful critique of racial and gender oppression set in colonial Rhodesia.
2. She gained international acclaim with The Golden Notebook (1962), a groundbreaking feminist novel that dissected the mental and emotional fragmentation of women in a patriarchal world.
3. Other notable works include the Children of Violence series (1952–1969), which traces a woman’s life journey through war, social revolution, and self-discovery, and the Canopus in Argos: Archives series, a blend of science fiction and philosophical reflection.

Life :

Lessing was a fearless and independent thinker, unafraid to challenge dominant ideologies—whether related to communism, feminism, or empire. In 2007, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, being praised for her ability to “subject a divided civilization to scrutiny.” Doris Lessing passed away on November 17, 2013, in London, leaving behind a rich and diverse literary legacy that continues to provoke thought and inspire readers around the world.

Summary of the Story: The Grass is Singing

Beginning: A Murder and Flashback

• The novel opens with the news of Mary Turner’s murder, setting the tone for a tragic and inevitable end.

• The story then moves back in time to explain how Mary’s life led to this moment.

Mary’s Early Life and Marriage

• Mary grows up in a British colonial town, enjoying a carefree life as a young, single woman.

• As she reaches her 30s, social pressure forces her to marry Dick Turner, a poor but hard-working farmer.

• Mary dislikes farm life, finds it dull and isolating, and begins to resent her husband.

The Struggles on the Farm

• The Turners face financial difficulties, and Mary becomes increasingly bitter and cruel toward their Black farm workers.

• She abuses and mistreats Moses, her Black servant, but he remains silent and obedient.

Mary’s Psychological Decline and Power Shift

• Over time, Mary’s fear and attraction to Moses create an uneasy tension.

• Moses begins to exert psychological control over her, reversing the power dynamic.

• Mary, now broken and submissive, loses her will to live.

Tragic Ending

• The novel reaches its climax when Moses murders Mary, an act that symbolizes the inevitable collapse of colonial power.

• The novel ends without clear justice, highlighting the deep flaws of the colonial system and leaving the reader with a sense of unease.

2. Themes in the Novel: The Grass is Singing

1. Colonialism and Racial Injustice

   • The novel highlights racial inequality and exploitation, where white settlers control Black workers and dehumanize them.

   • The relationship between Mary and Moses is central to this theme, showing how colonial structures foster fear, oppression, and forbidden desires.

2. Gender Oppression and Feminism

   • Mary’s powerlessness and societal expectations reflect the struggles of women in a male-dominated world.

   • Her failed marriage and mental breakdown emphasize how colonial women were expected to conform but had limited agency.

3. Isolation and Psychological Breakdown

   • The novel explores Mary’s descent into madness, showing how loneliness, repression, and cultural alienation destroy her mentally and emotionally.

4. Economic Struggles and Class Distinctions

   • The Turners’ financial struggles reveal the false promise of colonial success for many white settlers who could not thrive despite their racial privilege.

5. Power and Resistance

   • The story critiques power imbalances—not only between races but also between men and women, masters and servants, and wealthy and poor settlers.

3. Style and Narrative Technique: The Grass is Singing

• Third-Person Omniscient Narration:
  The novel is narrated in the third person, offering insight into the inner thoughts and struggles of characters like Mary Turner.

• Flashback Structure:
  The story starts with Mary’s murder and then moves backward to explain how events unfolded, creating suspense and psychological depth.

• Realism and Psychological Exploration:
  Lessing uses realistic descriptions of farm life, social hierarchies, and Mary’s mental deterioration, making the novel both a social critique and a psychological study.

• Symbolism:

  • The African landscape represents both freedom and entrapment for Mary.

  • Heat and drought mirror her emotional suffering and mental breakdown.

  • The grass “singing” in the title refers to a moment of psychological realization and doom, symbolizing Mary’s final descent into madness.

4. Main Characters: The Grass is Singing 

1. Mary Turner

   • The protagonist is a white settler woman who marries out of social pressure but ends up unhappy, isolated, and mentally unstable.

   • Her struggle with poverty, racism, and gender roles leads to her tragic downfall.

2. Dick Turner

   • Mary’s husband is a poor white farmer who fails to make his farm profitable.

   • He is kind but weak, unable to provide for Mary, leading to tension in their marriage.

3. Moses

   • A Black servant who initially obeys Mary but later exerts quiet control over her.

   • His complex relationship with Mary represents the shifting power dynamics of colonial rule.

4. Charlie Slatter

   • A wealthy, racist white farmer who embodies the harsh, controlling mindset of the colonial elite.

   • He looks down on the Turners and seeks to maintain white supremacy.

5. Tony Marston

   • A young, idealistic Englishman who arrives in Rhodesia and questions the racial and social injustices but is ultimately powerless to change them.

5 . Conclusion

The Grass Is Singing is a masterpiece of Commonwealth literature, offering a brutal critique of colonial rule, racial oppression, and gender constraints. Doris Lessing explores the psychological and social consequences of imperialism, showing how it dehumanizes both the colonizers and the colonized. The novel remains a powerful study of power, fear, and inevitable change in colonial societies.