The Summer before the Dark Themes

This Study Guide consists of approximately 9 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Summer before the Dark.

The Summer before the Dark Themes

This Study Guide consists of approximately 9 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Summer before the Dark.
This section contains 368 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy The Summer before the Dark Short Guide

The Summer before the Dark Summary & Study Guide Description

The Summer before the Dark Summary & Study Guide includes comprehensive information and analysis to help you understand the book. This study guide contains the following sections:

This detailed literature summary also contains Related Titles on The Summer before the Dark by Doris Lessing.

Preview of The Summer before the Dark Summary:

Although one can trace how Kate Brown represents another of Lessing's female characters who break out of traditional roles and values, Kate is the first one that depicts a different stage of life, that of the aging woman who recognizes both her psychological and physiological life changes and eventually embraces them. Lessing portrays women in such instances who do not necessarily experience a radical breakdown but whose biological tendencies allow them to be receptive to a change in life, albeit not initially. When the reader first encounters the middle-aged Kate, she is unaware and resistant to changes in her accustomed role as mother and wife, even though her children are grown and repeatedly leave the home environment she has provided. Shaped by the typical biological and societal roles of mother and wife, Kate's personality has developed accordingly.

The demands of the newfound job take Kate on a journey...

This section contains 368 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)
Buy The Summer before the Dark Short Guide
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The Summer before the Dark from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.