The Fifth Child
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The novel The Fifth Child by Doris Lessing was first published in Britain in 1988 and has since been translated into a number of languages. The book describes the changes in the happy life of the married couple Harriet and David Lovatt which occur as consequence of the birth of Ben, their fifth child. It is a powerful nightmare.
The sequel Ben, in the World (2000) further develops Ben's life after he has left his family.
The story takes place starting in London in the 1960s. The main characters, Harriet and David Lovatt, are both conservative and share their vision of tradition and harmonious normalcy within a large family. They meet at an office party and within a short time they marry and start to realize their dream in a big old house outside London. Events in the outside world do not affect them. They are a haven of peace and a refuge for their relations.
Before Ben was born, Harriet and David lived a perfect life, deeply in love and thankful for their four children, but with Ben's behavior and appearance their family life and their personal relationship change. He resembles a dwarf as much as a wild animal or some kind of alien, even Neanderthal. The parents understand that their fifth child will never be accepted in their world. Their dream is shattered.
Finally they decide to give Ben away to an institution, but Harriet goes and gets him out again after finding out what they do to him there. The others in the family cannot forgive her for having done this. At the peak of the family break-up, Harriet is left alone to deal with Ben's abnormality while her children go off to boarding school and her husband works all day so that he does not have to see her or Ben. She feels being treated like a criminal as though it were her fault. Ben finds his way among a group of juvenile delinquents.
The book critically discusses the reactions of society and even close family towards this very strange child of whom everyone is terrified. It shows how much Ben unknowingly affects the fate of the family he is born into. Doctors can't bring themselves to admit to his being abnormal and institutions are unable to help. The book also shows how your dream of perfection can be destroyed by outside influences. You cannot choose your destiny.