the problematics of motherhood in twentieth century women's fiction

227
5.5.9.6. "Maternity clothes", "maternity shops" and
"boutiques for babies" (M 9) stir images of the expecting
mother ln The Millstone, whlch seem to reproach Rosamund
carrying her ~llegitimate child.
Drabble attempts to
destroy the myth of motherhood, the false lmages of mothers
propagated by men for thelr own advantage
At the cllnlc
for instance, Rosamund flnds the pregnant women a depressed
and miserable lot and cannot help contrasting them wlrh the
mystique woven around them:
One hears much, thoush mostlv from the Interested
maie, about the be&ty of 'a woman wlth chlld,
shlps In full sall, and all that klnd of
metapnorlcal euphemism 1M 65,
In reality however these metaphors are lnvalld as the welght
of evldence 1s overwhelmrngly the opposlte
5.5.9.7. Domestrc lmages are lrnked to Kace Brown ln the
beginning of Dorls Lesslng's The Summer Before the Dark.
"She carefully carrled her tray, and she was thlnklng about
the washzng-up whlle she continued her prlvate stock-taklng,
her accounts makrng" (SBD 91
Wlth her qualltles, she seems
to conform to the ldeal of femln~ne motherhood. "a beautiful
woman, a wonderful mother, a cook for the angels, a
marvellous belng, all warmth and kindness, wlth not a fault
In her" (SBD.17)
She plays the role of "provider of
lnvls~ble manna, consolation, warmth, sympathy" (SBD 47)
Other degrading images associated with her are lndlcative of