1. Introduction 

Doris Lessing is an English writer with a good reputation. She holds a unique position as “an iconoclastic, outspoken critic of society and politics with a sage-like, almost magisterial status” (Rubenstein, 1979:245). In 2007, Lessing won the Nobel Prize in Literature. She is described by the Swedish Academy as “that epicist of the female experience, who with skepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a pided civilisation to scrutiny" (Wastberg, 2007).

1.1 Doris Lessing and The Marriages between Zones Three, Four and Five

Doris Lessing was born in Persia in 1919. Five years later, Lessing’s father, who had long been yearning for rural life, led the whole family move to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). However, it was difficult to make a living on the farm for her father. The family had a hard life in Africa. Lessing finished her formal education in a boarding school at 14. When she was 16, she set to work such as telephone operator, nurse, stenographer and so on. In 1949, Lessing arrived in London and started her literary creation. In this period, Lessing focused on the growing political awareness among the black people. Her hard life at the early years in Africa was her important property in her writing. In 1950, she published her first novel The Grass is Singing, which achieved great success. Doris Lessing is a productive writer. In her 60 years of writing, she has written nearly 80 short stories, about 30 novels, and several essays, scripts and poetry. From 1979 to 1982, Lessing published her space fiction “Canopus in Argos: Archives”, the most important works in her literary creation. The Marriages between Zones Three, Four and Five is the second section of the series.

The story is set in the unknown districts of zones, where three zones are separated by difference mainly in the social organization and geography. Each zone is surrounded by dark and strange air and separated from others. Therefore, they can not communicate with the outside word. It begins when the Provider, the unknowable omnipresent ruler of all Zones, commands Al Ith to marry Ben Ata. Al Ith, the gentle queen of the serene Zone Three, takes a dislike to marry Ben Ata, the despotic king of Zone Four. Ben Ata is also averse to accepting a woman interrupting his life. However, the order is irresistible. They battle against each other for a long time. Ben Ata feels ill at Al Ith’s old habit and Ben Ata’s indelicacy disgusts Al Ith. They are more willing to have a partner chosen by themselves. However, as time passes, they get accustomed to each other and know more about the other’s inner world. Al Ith no longer looks down on Ben Ata and accepts life in the Zone Four. Ben Ata identifies with Al Ith’s thoughts about how to govern the state. In an atmosphere of peace and harmony, they bear a son named Arusi. But just when they are getting along well with each other, another command is given: Ben Ata must marry Vahshi, the queen from the uncivilized Zone Five, and Al Ith ought to turn back to her own zones. The news is bad for them and dismays the two. However, they have no choice but obey the order. Both of them feel sad but they all expect the reunion. In the following years, Ben Ata reclaims the “wild” Vahshi and changes himself a lot. Al Ith is living in a “little shed” at the foot the pass. Five years later, the whole family reunites together. Ben Ata and Al Ith talk with each other friendly. However, on a special day, Al Ith climbs the road to Zone Two and never comes back. Nevertheless, the visible changes caused by the marriage can be found everywhere. The closure of frontier means the integration of four zones. People start to visit other zones and communicate with each other. The zones are filled with vigor and vitality later. 

1.2 Freud’s personality structure theory源]自=吹冰-·论~文"网·www.chuibin.com/

Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) is the most famous and controversial Austrian neurologist, now known as the father of psychoanalysis. He showed his extraordinary intelligence in the middle school and always got good marks in all subjects. He entered the University of Vienna when he was 17 and achieved doctor of medicine in 1881. His legendary life began from then on.