ENDLESS PROBLEMS

ENDLESS PROBLEMS The Lonely Lady, a novel by Harold Robbins first published in the U.S., throws light on one of the weaknesses of the highly developed society of America which causes an unmarried woman to end her life in a state of insufferable loneliness. It is the story of a beautiful, young, American woman who, dazzled by the glamour of the film world, abandons her married life to become an actress. Her perfect femininity helps her to climb the ladder of success and she quickly reaches dizzy heights of fame and wealth. She has a host of fans and is surrounded by luxuries, but the climax of her success does not bring her peace. Now she discovers the bitter truth — that “fame has a way of fading, and friends a way of disappearing when they are most needed.” 33 With a sigh, she says, “Only a woman knows what loneliness is.” 34 The main point made by the novel is that a woman cannot afford to find herself in such a situation. Making vast sums of money working in films and securing an independent life may seem very attractive propositions, but as a woman ages, her friends no longer see any charm in her and this, to the woman, proves an unbearable shock. She may have amassed all kinds of wealth and material objects, but still lacks what she most needs — peace of mind. This is something which can only arise from the stability of a permanent companionship, but now there is no man in her life who could give her just that. Too late, she realizes what it means to possess no family of her own. “Here is a loneliness born of independence, of honest individualism in a society where only dishonesty brings profit.” 35 The system of human life is a web of extremely delicate balances and counter-balances, in which even a minor change can wreak havoc. It is no different from the animal, vegetable and mineral kingdoms in which the secret of success lies in never deviating from the pattern laid down by nature. Achieving the desired result is possible only when the established structure of nature is understood and accepted. But the very people who adhere strictly to this precept as regards the world of matter, forget that this is an eternal truth which applies to their own lives too. Nature’s system for men and women takes shape in the institution of marriage. A woman’s physique, psychology, familial urges and social relations all demand that she lead a married — and, therefore, moral — life. This is a pattern which has been laid down for her own good. Being free and independent seems an attractive phrase when applied to a woman, but the practical experience of personal liberty can range from the purely unpleasant to the downright disgusting. In her youth a woman may easily fall prey to what strikes her — because of her inexperience — as an appealing way of life. But, as she grows older, and goes from one bitter experience to the next, she realizes that she has made a wrong choice. But this dawns