Initially published in the New Yorker on August 6, 1955, Doris Lessing’s short story “Through the Tunnel” was incorporated into her collection of short stories, The Habit of Loving, two years later. The short story follows a young boy, Jerry, through the course of a few days when he is on vacation with his mother.
Through the Tunnel | Summary
The narrative opens with an introduction to the protagonist, a young boy of eleven by the name of Jerry, looking on at his mother who walks in front of him. They are on their way to a crowded beach his mother likes to visit. Jerry turns away to look instead at the rocky bay, which attracts him more. When asked by his mother if he was coming, he continues on his way and chooses to go with her out of reluctance to leave her alone.
The next day, however, Jerry decides to express to his mother his desire to explore the rocky path of the bay. Out in the bay, Jerry finds some local boys swimming and joins them. However, he fails to communicate with them due to the language barrier. As they dive, one of the boys vanishes and reemerges on the other side of a large rock. Intrigued, the rest of the boys follow suit. Jerry attempts to join them by diving, but he is unable to find any opening in the rock. He tries to get their attention by shouting in English and using gestures to communicate, but the boys remain unimpressed. Feeling dejected and embarrassed, Jerry resorts to shouting random French words, but the boys continue to ignore him. They once again dive beneath the rock, leaving Jerry with a deep sense of rejection.
The next day, equipped with the goggles that he persuaded his mother to buy for him, he finds his vision exposed to the world of fish and seaweed. Driven by desperation, he repeatedly dives down, determined to locate the opening in the rock that the older boys had effortlessly swum through. Eventually, he discovers the path that the older boys took.
Jerry’s determination to swim through the tunnel compels him to immediately embark on a rigorous training regimen focused on breath control. He effortlessly settles on the seabed, clutching a sizable rock in his arms, while diligently counting. However, that night he suffers a severe nosebleed, prompting him to dedicate the next two days to intense exercises, treating them as though his entire existence and future hinge upon their success.
As a consequence of another nosebleed, his mother insists that he rest with her on the beach. He complies for a day, but the following morning, without seeking permission he ventures off to the bay on his own. Immersed in solitude, he continues his practice of holding his breath underwater, exhibiting a persistent focus as he studies the enigmatic tunnel.
When his mother announces their departure, Jerry’s determination to succeed in attempting this feat escalates to the level of obsession, even though it means risking his life. The severity of his nosebleeds leaves him feeling lightheaded, fueling concerns that a similar fate awaits him within the tunnel—trapped and facing imminent death. Though initially resolving to postpone his attempt until the following summer, an overwhelming impulse takes hold of him, compelling him to the endeavor right away.
With a mix of fear and horror, Jerry proceeds in this endeavor: the imperative to continue into the darkness becomes a matter of survival. His head swells and his lungs strain under the pressure. Gradually, he loses consciousness, teetering on the edge of life. Even upon successfully reaching his objective and surfacing, he is haunted by the fear of sinking and drowning, feeling incapable of swimming even the short distance back to the safety of the rock. Exhausted and overwhelmed, he eventually manages to hoist himself onto the rock, tearing off his goggles only to find them stained with blood.
Upon his arrival at the villa after this incident, his mother becomes worried by his visibly strained appearance. However, she reassures herself, acknowledging that he possesses exceptional swimming abilities, remarking that “he can swim like a fish.” In a sudden uncontrollable outburst, Jerry declares that he can remain submerged for “two minutes—three minutes, at least.” His mother responds with her customary moderation, cautioning him not to push himself too hard.
Through the Tunnel | Analysis
On the surface level, “Through the Tunnel” can be interpreted as a coming-of-age short story that explores themes of the adolescent desire for freedom and a quest for the unknown, fear and courage, and nature. However, a Freudian analysis manifests a much deeper variegated and evocative investigation of the text.
The very first indication in the story of the need for a Freudian lens of understanding can be found in the very first lines of the story:
“His mother walked on in front of him, carrying a bright striped bag in one hand. Her other arm, swinging loose, was very white in the sun. The boy watched that white naked arm and turned his eyes.”
The Oedipal complex could not be made more evident than this. The “bright striped bag” “swinging loose” in his mother’s “naked arm” is the mother’s sexuality in the eyes of her adolescent son and perhaps enhanced by the fact that she has been widowed. The father, who is the rival of attention and love is eliminated from the scenario. However, despite this, mother and son seem to be separated throughout the story by a metaphorical barrier of communication, which Jerry faces literally when he tries to commune with the local boys diving at the rocks. When he turns to look back at the rocks he wishes to explore by himself, he feels guilt and remorse for the act of leaving his mother alone, going against her wishes, and not meeting her expectations.
“There she was, a speck of yellow under an umbrella that looked like a slice of orange peel”
Jerry’s mother, represented in warm colors and lounging on the “safe” and “usual” beach represents the dominating presence of the mother figure in the son’s existence, even though the mother tries not to be too protective and allows him the freedom to explore the “wild rocky bay” of uncertainty and danger.
This longing for independence and Jerry’s desire to prove himself can be seen as an expression of his emerging masculinity and his need to assert himself as separate from his mother. Herein comes the id, driven by pleasure-seeking instincts. We find this expressed in Jerry’s desire to explore the wild bay and swim through the tunnel. The ego, the rational and reality-oriented part of the psyche, manifests in Jerry’s attempts to plan and prepare for his endeavor. The superego, the moral conscience, is seen in Jerry’s internal conflict as he balances his longing for independence with the fear of disappointing his mother. The id, ego, and superego represent the struggle between the different components of his psyche.
Through the Tunnel | Themes
The tunnel that Jerry desires to traverse can be interpreted as a symbol for the unconscious mind. Jerry’s desire to conquer the tunnel represents his unconscious wish to explore and conquer hidden aspects of his psyche and reach a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him. The fear and anxiety he experiences in the tunnel can be seen as resistance to confronting repressed thoughts, memories, or desires.
The Freudian theory emphasizes the role of fear and anxiety in human behavior. Jerry experiences both fear and anxiety throughout the story, particularly when he encounters the older boys and when he faces the challenges of swimming through the tunnel. These fears can be interpreted as manifestations of unconscious anxieties or conflicts related to his developmental stage and the process of individuation. These older men attempt to replace the absent father figure for Jerry. He observes them from afar and wants to join them. His conjoint longing to join them and be at par with them represents the Oedipal jealousy – the desire to replace the father. His failure to do so makes this his sole object of desire and obsession. He is willing to risk his life to succeed in making his way through the tunnel to its other unknown side.
Jerry’s fascination with the older boys and his desire to prove himself to them can be interpreted as an expression of sexual curiosity and the need for validation in his emerging sexual identity.
Through the Tunnel | Title of the Story
Analyzing the title “Through the Tunnel” in the context of Freudian analysis brings to the potential symbolic and psychological interpretations. The tunnel can be seen as a metaphorical representation of the unconscious mind or the depths of one’s psyche. In Freudian theory, the unconscious holds repressed desires, fears, and unresolved conflicts. Jerry’s journey through the tunnel can be interpreted as his attempt to explore and confront the hidden aspects of his psyche. The tunnel can also be seen as a symbol of the birth canal, representing Jerry’s transition from childhood to adolescence or adulthood. This connects with Freud’s psycho-sexual stages of development, particularly the genital stage, where sexual energy and identity formation become significant.
Furthermore, the act of swimming through the tunnel can be associated with the Oedipal complex. Jerry’s journey can be seen as an expression of his longing for independence and separation from his mother, symbolizing his struggle to establish his own identity and overcome his attachment to the maternal figure.
Alternately, one can say Doris Lessing’s “Through the Tunnel” primarily focuses on themes of personal growth, determination, and the challenges of adolescence and the journey therefor.
Through the Tunnel | Character Sketch
Jerry is the young protagonist of the story, around 11 years old. He is a determined boy who is seeking to prove his bravery and independence. From a Freudian perspective, Jerry can be seen as a representation of the ego, the conscious aspect of the mind. Throughout the story, Jerry grapples with the desire for independence and the fear of separation, which aligns with Freud’s theories of ego development and the struggles faced during the process of individuation.
Although the short story “Through the Tunnel” primarily focuses on Jerry’s perspective and his internal journey of self-discovery, rather than extensive characterization of secondary figures the key figures that the plot centers around are Jerry’s mother and the local boys.
Jerry’s mother is a caring and attentive figure in his life. She accompanies Jerry on their vacation to the seaside and shows concern for his well-being. She tries to strike a balance between allowing Jerry independence and ensuring his safety.
Jerry’s mother can also be viewed as a manifestation of the superego, representing societal and parental norms. She acts as a guiding force, setting boundaries and expressing concern for Jerry’s safety. Her role mirrors Freud’s concept of the superego’s influence on the individual, enforcing moral standards and providing a sense of right and wrong.
The local boys are a group of older boys who are skilled divers and swimmers. Jerry admires them and is intrigued by their ability to swim through the tunnel. The boys serve as a source of inspiration for Jerry’s challenge, although they are not directly involved in the narrative.
Through the Tunnel | Literary Devices
Water often represents the unconscious mind in Freudian analysis. In the story, the sea and the water surrounding the tunnel can be seen as symbols of the depths of the unconscious, which Jerry is compelled to explore. The bay is described as “wild” and “rocky”, representing the uncertainty and danger involved.
The water itself is stained with “purple and deep blue”, where “rocks lay like discolored monsters”. The seaweed in the tunnel, which reminds him of octopus tentacles, triggers fear in Jerry. This gloomy and perilous description of the unknown images the rocky transition of adolescence into adulthood and the challenges that come with it. They represent repressed or unsettling emotions and experiences lurking in his unconscious.
