People are just cannibals unless they leave each other alone

People are just cannibals unless they leave each other alone

Doris Lessing, a renowned British writer and Nobel Prize laureate, often explored themes of human nature, society, and relationships in her works. One of the recurring themes in her writing is the idea that people are inherently selfish and destructive, and that the only way to avoid this destructive behavior is to leave each other alone.

In Lessing's view, human beings are like cannibals in that they consume and destroy each other in various ways. This can be seen in the way people compete for resources, power, and attention, often at the expense of others. In her novel "The Golden Notebook," for example, Lessing portrays the protagonist, Anna Wulf, as a woman who struggles to maintain her independence and identity in a world where people constantly try to control and manipulate her.

Lessing's belief that people are cannibals unless they leave each other alone is rooted in her understanding of human nature. She believed that humans have a tendency towards selfishness and aggression, which can lead to destructive behavior if not kept in check. This idea is reflected in many of her works, where characters often struggle with their own inner demons and the destructive tendencies of those around them.