A while back, I bought a popover pan which I have yet to use…until now. Yorkshire pudding was first recorded in the 1730s. Since then, there have been many variations to this classic British side dish. So what is the difference between popovers and Yorkshire pudding? Well, from what I have read, popovers are similar to what I made – when you pour the batter in individual muffin tins (or a popover pan like mine). Yorkshire pudding uses the same batter but is baked in the dish that just cooked a roast (cooks in the drippings). Regardless of the history or how it is cooked, these were fun to make and delicious!
Now to the book…
One morning, before school, a student told me about this book. I have never heard of this book but when I read it labeled as “gothic horror,” I knew it was a must read. Little did I know there was also a sequel written twelve years later – Ben, In the World. I finished both these books about a week ago. I literally have been reflecting and reading reviews since finishing both. I am going to write some of my thoughts – not from a literary standpoint but from my own personal reflections.
1) the genre – I love gothic fiction but I would not characterize this book as “gothic horror.” I do not see this as “gothic” nor “horror.” I see it as more as a psychological thriller. When I first started reading The Fifth Child, it felt like Rosemary’s Baby. Then, it turned into The Omen and ended as The Shining.
2) Frankenstein – in my opinion, there is no doubt that Doris Lessing modeled this book (or the idea) after Frankenstein. Whereas the “creature” in Frankenstein was created by Dr. Frankenstein, the “creature” in The Fifth Child was created naturally/biologically (in other words, in the womb). Although they both were created differently, they both struggled with adapting to the world and finding love (rather through family and friendships or through a female).
3) nature v. nurture – I briefly discussed my thoughts on this with Defending Jacob (earlier blog post). This is where I struggled in the book and also where I reflected the most. First, this family had a child with special needs. Lessing never gives a name to the disability. In my mind, I imagined a mix between Quasimodo (from Hunchback of Notre Dame) and the Elephant Man. From the moment this child was born, he was not loved by any family member except his mother (some wanted to leave him to die alone in an institution). If you only read The Fifth Child, you would think he had demonic characteristics; however, if you read the sequel, you see that he was able to control some of those characteristics, especially when someone showed kindness to him. There is just so much to think about this… you have a child born different that placed much stress on the family. In The Fifth Child, it was either get rid of the child and salvage your “normal” family or keep Ben at the expense of the family. My perspective on this may be different from many because a ministry of my church is ministering to those with special needs. Each person, no matter of mental or physical capability, is created in God’s image. That is why I struggled with the aspect of a family wanting to just leave Ben to die in an institution (literally wrapped in a straight jacket, drugged, and hosed down). I can’t fathom knowingly treating another human like that (although I know it probably happens throughout the world). Another aspect I kept reflecting on was the pressures placed on families with children with special needs. There is no doubt that the pressure on families with special needs children is great but to discard a child as if he is a monster? Unfathomable. Do not get me wrong…I am not saying that placing individuals with special needs in care facilities is wrong. This is not the type of place in the book. The institution in the book does not treat the individuals with dignity nor as a child of God. They literally treat them as animals with the thought that they will die in weeks. I don’t blame the mom for wanting Ben out of that place. Second, I try to reflect on nature v. nurture through a Christ-like perspective. I have two daughters who are very much different in their likes and dislikes (“nature”) . They come from the same environment and are very much loved (“nurture”). Although we try to bring them up in a godly home with much love (AND discipline), does that mean they will have a “peachy keen” future with no struggles? No. Does that mean they will make some bad decisions? I hope not but yes. All in all, Ben was born the way he was but it is sort of sad that his brothers, sister, dad, and other relatives never showed kindness or love to him. Could this have made a difference in his life? Who knows but maybe? From reading the sequel, it makes you wonder that things could have been different if he was “nurtured” a lot more. Third, if you want an example of a beautiful picture of a child born with special needs and a family who loved the child regardless, then read up on Dick and Rick Hoyt. Dick Hoyt recently passed away (days after I finished these books). If you hear their story, they were told, right after their son was born, that maybe they should consider placing him in an institution because he would possibly be a vegetable his entire life. Rick’s mom and dad chose to rear him just like their other children, even campaigning for public school accommodations for their son (this was way before IDEA). Rick Hoyt would not only graduate from high school but also from college. But that isn’t the incredible part of the story… click on the links to read the beautiful story of father and son.
4) the sequel (Ben, In the World) – I read many reviews on the sequel. Many readers felt like the sequel should have never been written. Some believed it truly discredited the style of The Fifth Child. Although I can see how perspective on Ben can change by reading the sequel, I liked the sequel. I feel like it showed Ben’s perspective on his struggles of being different. Sadly, I think many of us (including myself) think that individuals with severe special needs do not know what we are saying but there is so much they pick up on (again, read about Rick Hoyt). They know. They feel. They see. Some reviews stated that they felt it was not very realistic that Ben would have been used in a movie. I, however, think that is very realistic, maybe not today but in the past. You only have to consider circuses (in the past) and the elephant man to know how individuals were used to make money. These individuals were not seen as humans but freaks, just like Ben.
I liked the sequel. I think it shows Ben’s perspective and brings to close The Fifth Child. I think it is important to see Ben’s struggles to not only find love but to feel loved. If he was nurtured during his lifetime as the old woman nurtured him, could Ben have become someone different (other than the Ben left to his natural desires)? Maybe but then again, if you read Defending Jacob, maybe it isn’t the “nurture” part but the “nature” part that makes a child a “monster.” That is the “food for thought” that I can’t help but consider…
So, should you read The Fifth Child and Ben, In the World? Yes and no. It would not be a book for everyone (and the sequel has a degree of sex in it that may not be appropriate for teens). I do think it would be a great book club book. Why? because of all the discussion points that can be considered. Try it. You may be surprised…
UPDATE:
One day after I typed this post, my Sunday school lesson was on Mark 5, when Jesus heals a man with a Demon. As we studied these verses, I could not help but think about Ben. From what I have read, Doris Lessing was not a Christian. She practiced sufism and was a Communist. I do not think she intended for The Fifth Child and Ben, In the World to have any correlation with a Christian viewpoint; however, I can’t help but see a strong similarity between Ben and the possessed man in Mark 5.
Mark 5 states that this possessed (“unclean”) man was very strong (v. 3), that no one could bind him, “not even a chain.” Verse 4 states that “no one had the strength to subdue him.” This is identical to Ben – an individual that had a strength that was unheard of. Later in Mark 5, it states that this unclean man was always “crying out and cutting himself with stones” (v. 5). Although the reader does not see Ben crying much in the books, you do see him show emotions and harm to others around him (for example, the death of two animals). Ben seemed to not have any control over his emotions EXCEPT for those who showed kindness to him (they seemed to help him control his anger).
Before I look into more with Mark 5, I am going to include a few notes I took during Sunday school.
1) Christians can’t be POSSESSED by demonic spirits but they can be OPPRESSED.
2) Demonic powers are wicked…demons are perfect at what they are and what they do – always utterly wicked.
3) Man created from birth in the image of God (not redeemed birth but created in the image of God)… this demon possessed man was shunned by others, having no fellowship with people.
4) Mark 5:6 – the man fell before Jesus but the demons were the ones speaking…this man had no power what comes from his mouth
5) At the end of Mark 5, we see this man healed of these demonic spirits…he was seated, clothed, and in his. right mind (divine transformation)
So what does all this have to do with Ben? I can’t help but think that Ben is very similar to demon possessed man. Ben was isolated, alone, uncontrollable (very “animalistic” in certain areas), angry…I can go on and on. He was only loved by his mother but shunned by others. He only did evil, hanging out with a gang that was running wild and committing numerous crimes. I wonder how this story would have been different if Ben belonged to a covenant family to ferociously prayed for divine intervention. There is no way we will know but I do believe that seeing a parallel between Ben and the demon possessed man gives a biblical perspective on a book that caused me much thought.
And a side note…my daughter and I had a lot of discussion yesterday (Saturday) about possessed people (brought on by my watching The Conjuring while cleaning out my closet). I came across this essay that I found interesting – Demon Possession.
