Information such as this might go a long way toward explaining much of Doris Lessing's work. From what has been written about her life, it can be assumed that Lessing was not happy with the noblesse oblige that came with white European womanhood in South Rhodesia. Lessing did not reserve her displeasure at the politicians or colonists who threatened to consume the African landscape, but also toward the writers whose works seemed to fan the flames. Africa was not Lessing's only subject. In a reflection of real life, some of her writing concerned English women.
Despair is a common theme, and England's society is characterized as being cold and passive.
British people are often shown as indifferent and self-absorbed. The story traces the descent of the marriage to its end, through numerous affairs, a growing apart, and the loss of connections. It is because of these lost connections that the main character, Susan Rawlings, slides into despair and the ultimate passivity of death. Doris Lessing is a diverse writer, whose works reflect her varied background. Although some of her work could be characterized as feminist, or socialist, or communist, none of these characterizations completely describe the stories she has produced.