Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
The Fifth Child - Online Term Paper

The Fifth Child

In the novel by Doris Lessing, the author asked the reader to determine the true nature of the character Ben. Ben is portrayed as a selfish, brutal, belligerent child. He relates to society in a cruel, aggressive manner. Based on the authors analysis, the reader is lead to believe that Ben’s personality and behavior is a product of genetics, and that therapeutic interventions are not capable of changing this conduct to conform to societies norms. The author illustrates this conclusion by describing Ben’s personality from the time he was in the womb, through adulthood. As an unborn child, Ben was constantly kicking his mother and hurting her from the inside. As a young child, Ben’s ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

the time of birth, Harriet had conceived Ben as being a belligerent infant whose main purpose in the world was to harm. When he was in her womb, Ben would be “trying to tear its way out of her stomach (38),” in a rage of vigorous jabs and kicks. When Ben was born, he was a rebellious child, always trying to hurt something or someone. Only having been a couple months old, Ben broke Paul's arm. “...and Ben had grabbed the hand and pulled Paul hard against the bars, bending the arm deliberately backwards(58).” This deliberate action warned the rest of the children and Harriet to be careful. When Ben was around, Harriet did not avoid spending time with him but instead was more cautious while in his company. She would sometimes yell at him and threaten him and then be nice and try to teach him acts of kindness. “When she put her arms around him there was no response, no warmth, as if he did not feel her touch (96).” Harriet represents the handful of progressives, a ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.

Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE:

APA
MLA
Chicago
Turabian

The Fifth Child. (2005, June 20). Retrieved May 31, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Fifth-Child/28779

"The Fifth Child." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 20 Jun. 2005. Web. 31 May. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Fifth-Child/28779>

"The Fifth Child." Essayworld.com. June 20, 2005. Accessed May 31, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Fifth-Child/28779.

JOIN NOW

Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays

PAPER DETAILS

Added: 6/20/2005 07:26:04 AM
Category: Book Reports
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 827
Pages: 4

Save |

Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS

Save and find your favorite essays easier