THE CINDERELLA COMPLEX IN THE CHARACTER OF LYDIA IN ROSE TREMAIN’S THE ROAD HOME

Abstract

This article examines the character of Lydia in English novelist Rose Tremain’s 2007 novel The Road Home through the lens of the Cinderella complex, a concept popularized by Colette Dowling in 1981. Tremain’s work has garnered attention in the literary world as a migration story and its main theme focuses on the experiences of the protagonist Lev, who migrates from Eastern Europe to London. Among the significant characters in the novel is Lydia, a thirty-nine-year-old woman who has never married. The Cinderella complex is defined as a psychological condition where women wait for a prince to rescue them and live dependently on others instead of realizing their potential. This syndrome is characterized by a lack of self-esteem, dependent relationships, and a pursuit of personal satisfaction, traits that are evident in Lydia’s character. Although Lydia appears to be making a fresh start in London, hoping to find a job as a translator thanks to her language skills, her tendencies toward dependency and a desire to be rescued by a man play a crucial role in her personal and professional life. Eventually, Lydia becomes the mistress of a wealthy, famous, and married orchestra conductor, who is old and has children and grandchildren. In this scenario, Lydia’s prince is the orchestra conductor, who acts as her rescuer and embodies the manifestation of the Cinderella complex. Tremain’s novel, in this context, offers readers a critical perspective on the psychological and social dynamics affecting women.

Keywords: Attachment Theory, Colette Dowling, Rose Tremain, Sigmund Freud, Cinderella Complex, The Road Home