Discussion Topic
The symbolism in Doris Lessing's "Through the Tunnel"
Summary:
In "Through the Tunnel," the tunnel symbolizes Jerry's journey from childhood to adulthood. It represents his personal challenges and the transition towards independence and self-discovery. By swimming through the tunnel, Jerry proves his bravery and determination, marking his growth and maturity.
What does the tunnel symbolize in Doris Lessing's "Through the Tunnel"?
Clearly the major symbol in this story, the tunnel and Jerry's passage through it, is linked to the theme, which is the transition from the state of being a child to being an adult. What is important to focus on is how the theme is developed through the use of the symbol of the tunnel in this excellent short story. By the end of the story Jerry has gone through a journey from childhood to manhood, symbolised most stridently in his journey through the tunnel.
At the beginning of the story we are introduced to a character who is on the cusp of adolescense, and very clearly feels responsible for his mother due to their enforced intimacy. Yet despite his feelings of responsibility towards his mother, he nonetheless feels drawn to the "wild beach", which is away from the "safe beach" and his mother's attentive care. The wild beach here can...
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be said to symbolise independence and life away from the protection of a parent figure - note how Lessing describes the two beaches to draw out this comparison.
His discovery of the tunnel and the challenge that the French boys set him through swimming through the tunnel spur Jerry on to train hard and eventually succeed in his attempt to go through the tunnel. Although certainly at the beginning of the story it is Jerry's need to be accepted by the older group of French boys that drives his desire to go through the tunnel, it is interesting that at the end of the story he no longer feels this is the case, as he is happy to go back home and spend time with his mother. This indicates that the tunnel was more about a process of self-acceptance and doing something to show he could do it for himself rather than for any other reason.
His relationship with his mother likewise has changed by the end of the story. Jerry deliberately witholds his triumph, only relating his ability to hold his breath. The dramatic irony in his mother's response ("I wouldn't overdo it, dear") indicates the independence that Jerry has achieved in his journey through the tunnel - he has now entered an arena where he has secrets from his mother and is able to engage in activities, dangerous activies, away from his mother's protection.
Clearly this story is about adolescence and the steps that one boy take to become a man, at least in his own eyes, and to emerge out of the other end of the tunnel of adolescence. This is how Lessing uses the tunnel in this excellent short story.
What does the safe beach symbolize in Doris Lessing's "Through the Tunnel?"
The safe beach is populated with mothers and children, mostly, and the sand is soft and warm. This image suggests that the safe beach represents a peaceful place of security, stability, and shelter. Juxtaposed to this beach is the section of beach that is surrounded by rocks, native boys without supervision, and a mysterious swimming hole. When Jerry decides to go to the new and mysterious part of the beach, he still looks over to check and make sure that the safe beach, and his mother, are still there. For the eleven-year-old Jerry, he knows that safety is still close, but that he can learn on his own about the scarier or more intense parts of life away from this mother. For us today, the safe beach is anywhere one might feel sheltered and safe.