The Golden Notebook

by

Doris Lessing

Ronnie Character Analysis

Ivor’s theatrical lover, Ronnie, moves into Anna’s flat without warning in the third section of Free Women. Anna hates his vanity and effeminacy, which she sees as a parody of women and “‘normal’ love.” Despite her fears that nobody else would take him in and his attempts to ingratiate her, Anna kicks Ronnie out of the apartment at the end of the section, but he briefly returns in the following portion of Free Women.
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Ronnie Character Timeline in The Golden Notebook

The timeline below shows where the character Ronnie appears in The Golden Notebook. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Free Women: 3
Gender, Labor, and Power Theme Icon
Love and Sex Theme Icon
...it means the “whole area of tension” with men like Michael and Richard.  Ivor’s friend Ronnie has “moved into Ivor’s room and to his bed,” and Anna does not much care,... (full context)
Gender, Labor, and Power Theme Icon
Love and Sex Theme Icon
...might be a stronger version of the “cold evasive emotion” straight men feel for women. Ronnie is singing, seemingly “mocking ‘normal’ love,” and Anna worries about “all this” affecting Janet. He... (full context)
Gender, Labor, and Power Theme Icon
Love and Sex Theme Icon
...has to bring Janet dinner. When she does, Janet asks whether Anna likes Ivor and Ronnie—Anna says she does like them, but Janet knows she actually despises Ronnie, “because he makes... (full context)
Gender, Labor, and Power Theme Icon
Communism and Disillusionment Theme Icon
Action, Freedom, and Moral Courage Theme Icon
Anna decides that Ronnie is the problem and figures she will tell Ivor to get rid of him. She... (full context)
Gender, Labor, and Power Theme Icon
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Communism and Disillusionment Theme Icon
Anna finds Ronnie using her lotion in the bathroom, wearing expensive clothes that suggest “he should be in... (full context)
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Action, Freedom, and Moral Courage Theme Icon
Fact, Fiction, and Authorship Theme Icon
...when Anna mentions the coming evictions, but she does ask to go to boarding school. Ronnie mentions that perhaps he could help with shopping. (full context)
Fragmentation, Breakdown, and Unity Theme Icon
Gender, Labor, and Power Theme Icon
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Communism and Disillusionment Theme Icon
Action, Freedom, and Moral Courage Theme Icon
That night, Ivor asks that only Ronnie leave, and Anna agrees. Ronnie makes a scene that leads Anna to feel like “a... (full context)
Free Women: 4
Gender, Labor, and Power Theme Icon
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Action, Freedom, and Moral Courage Theme Icon
Exhausted and irritated that Ronnie has seemingly moved back into the flat without permission, Anna waits for Molly and Richard... (full context)