Essay, Research Paper: Fifth Child By Lessing
English
Free English research papers were donated by our members/visitors and are presented free of charge for informational use only. The essay or term paper you are seeing on this page
was not produced by our company and should not be considered a sample of our research/writing service. We are neither affiliated with the author of this essay nor responsible for its content. If you need high quality, fresh and competent research / writing done on the subject of English, use the professional writing service offered by our company.
In “The Fifth Child,” Lessing contrasts society’s idea of an “ideal”
family to the “real” dysfunctional family in our everyday lives. Harriet and
David’s dream was to have the “ideal” family. They made the mistake of
setting standards too high for themselves and putting a front of an ideal
family, which was just a cover for the real dysfunctional one. People in society
tend to believe that the ideal family is what life is all about. They believe
that as long as they can obtain the ideal family, this will bring them
happiness. The reality is that this perfect family structure isn’t obtainable.
Bridget, for instance, comes from a dysfunctional family and goes to stay with
Harriet and David’s family to get a taste of their “ideal” family. Even
the family realizes that Bridget longs for this feeling of family togetherness.
“Bridget has to be told by you hat she is welcome.” She does not realize
that Harriet and David’s ideal family is just a picture they painted so others
could believe this it is ideal. The picture they painted is of a big house, lots
of kids, and big family parties. This doesn’t necessarily mean that this is a
happy family. David comes from what is thought of as the ideal family. He had
everything anyone could ever ask for. Although, his parents were divorced, no
one was ever around for him, and he set himself in solitude. “My room-that was
home.” The “ideal” family that turned out to be the dysfunctional family;
is what this is all about. The idea of a perfect family is the dream of a
dysfunctional family. Harriet has a strong belief in this also; she and
David’s dreams create her ideas of the ideal family. Their dreams and wishes
are irrational; they are what they want in life. Dorothy describes Harriet as
having “eyes bigger than her stomach.” Harriet wants more than what she can
handle. She does not realize that what she wishes for cannot come true. Harriet
and David cannot fulfill their fantasies; their idea of an ideal family cannot
be created. Families aren’t meant to be ideal; they are dysfunctional. All
families have problems. This is what life is all about. Life isn’t always what
you want but what you put into it.
family to the “real” dysfunctional family in our everyday lives. Harriet and
David’s dream was to have the “ideal” family. They made the mistake of
setting standards too high for themselves and putting a front of an ideal
family, which was just a cover for the real dysfunctional one. People in society
tend to believe that the ideal family is what life is all about. They believe
that as long as they can obtain the ideal family, this will bring them
happiness. The reality is that this perfect family structure isn’t obtainable.
Bridget, for instance, comes from a dysfunctional family and goes to stay with
Harriet and David’s family to get a taste of their “ideal” family. Even
the family realizes that Bridget longs for this feeling of family togetherness.
“Bridget has to be told by you hat she is welcome.” She does not realize
that Harriet and David’s ideal family is just a picture they painted so others
could believe this it is ideal. The picture they painted is of a big house, lots
of kids, and big family parties. This doesn’t necessarily mean that this is a
happy family. David comes from what is thought of as the ideal family. He had
everything anyone could ever ask for. Although, his parents were divorced, no
one was ever around for him, and he set himself in solitude. “My room-that was
home.” The “ideal” family that turned out to be the dysfunctional family;
is what this is all about. The idea of a perfect family is the dream of a
dysfunctional family. Harriet has a strong belief in this also; she and
David’s dreams create her ideas of the ideal family. Their dreams and wishes
are irrational; they are what they want in life. Dorothy describes Harriet as
having “eyes bigger than her stomach.” Harriet wants more than what she can
handle. She does not realize that what she wishes for cannot come true. Harriet
and David cannot fulfill their fantasies; their idea of an ideal family cannot
be created. Families aren’t meant to be ideal; they are dysfunctional. All
families have problems. This is what life is all about. Life isn’t always what
you want but what you put into it.
0
0
Good or bad? How would you rate this essay?
Help other users to find the good and worthy free term papers and trash the bad ones.
Help other users to find the good and worthy free term papers and trash the bad ones.
Get a Custom Paper on English:
Free papers will not meet the guidelines of your specific project. If you need a custom essay on English: , we can write you a high quality authentic essay. While free essays can be traced by Turnitin (plagiarism detection program), our custom written papers will pass any plagiarism test, guaranteed. Our writing service will save you time and grade.
Related essays:
0
1
English / First Confession By O`Connor
In Frank O’Connor’s story “First Confession”, Mrs. Ryan and the priest
are different. Mrs. Ryan and the priest approach Jackie differently and have
different affects on him. Mrs. Ryan makes Jackie fee...
0
1
English / First Confession By O`Connor
Frank O’Connor wrote and published two versions of the story, “First
Confession”. The first version was written in limited omniscient point of view
and the second one was written in a first person poi...
0
0
English / Fitzgerald`s Thoughts And Nick Carroway
Nick Carraway has a very important part in this novel. He isn’t just one
character among several others. It is through his eyes and ears that we form our
opinions on the other characters. Often, reade...
1
0
English / Flatland By Edwin Abbott
Dimensions: you keep running into them while reading your books and attending
your lectures, and in most computations they are not very difficult to handle.
But have you ever tried to imagine what all...
0
2
English / Flea By John Donne
Conceits on John Donne’s “The Flea” John Donne was born into an old Roman
Catholic family. At age 11 he entered the University of Oxford, where he studied
for three years. He spent the next three year...
Property of MEDIATECH LIMITED