Mr. Ayres

English per.0

Oct/2/05

Through the tunnel

"Through the Tunnel" is a descriptive narrative written by Doris Lessing. It was first published in the New Yorker on August 6, 1955. The protagonist, Jerry, and his mother are thrown in a world where they discover who they truly are. Through the use of setting, this story communicates the theme that establishing one's identity is truly a painful experience. In this story, Jerry struggles with the choice of being on his own and being accepted, but he soon realizes that creating his own identity is harsh. Doris Lessing uses a descriptive setting and complex characters to show what kind of world Jerry lives in.

The story begins with a description Jerry's mother carrying a bright striped purse. It was this and many other uses of describing Jerry's surroundings with the use of bright colors that symbolized that Jerry was...