The Deconstructing Tendency in The Golden Notebook

Abstract

This paper seeks to reveal Lessing’s critique of the Western cultural obsession with “certainty” in The Golden Notebook. By deconstructing the relationship between Anna and Willi, the novel demonstrates that both Willi’s rigid adherence to bookish dogma and Anna’s radical pursuit of definitive answers stem from a dependence on certainty and a fear of the unknown. Through portraying Anna’s multiple identities and emphasizing plurality, Lessing aims to remind people to embrace contradiction—that is, to accept that the world and the self are inherently fragmented and paradoxical. This entails maintaining an openness to new evidence, diverse perspectives, and complex realities, while never ceasing to question and reflect. It also means living with uncertainty and having the courage to continue leading an authentic and responsible life and taking action even in the absence of ultimate answers.