The Grandmothers
Roz - One of the grandmothers and a central character. She is a strong, independent woman who shares an intense bond with her best friend, Lil. Roz has an affair with Lil’s son, Ian.
Lil: Roz’s best friend and the other grandmother. She is similarly strong-willed and engaged in an affair with Roz’s son, Tom. Lil and Roz’s friendship and relationships with each other's sons create complex dynamics.
Ian: Lil’s son who has an affair with Roz. His relationship with Roz is central to the narrative.
Tom: Roz’s son who has an affair with Lil. His relationship with Lil mirrors that of Roz and Ian.
Mary: Ian’s wife, who feels sidelined due to Ian’s relationship with Roz.

Victoria and the Staveneys
Victoria - A young black woman who becomes involved with a white family, the Staveneys, after a brief relationship with their son, Thomas.
Thomas Staveney - A liberal, well-meaning white man who has a brief affair with Victoria and is the father of her child.
Edward Staveney - Thomas's brother, who is also involved in Victoria’s life.
David - Victoria’s son, whom she raises largely on her own with intermittent help from the Staveneys.
Ann Staveney - Thomas’s mother, who represents the well-meaning but often clueless liberal attitude towards race and class.

The Reason for It
The Leader - A nameless, wise leader reflecting on the downfall of his civilization.
The Chronicler - A narrator who records the story and the decline of the society.
Rulers - Successors of the wise leader, whose incompetence and selfishness contribute to the collapse of the society.

A Love Child
James - A British soldier who has a brief, passionate affair while stationed in India during World War II.
Daphne - The woman with whom James has the affair. She becomes pregnant, and the resulting child creates a lasting emotional impact on James.
Ben - The child born from James and Daphne’s affair.

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Ageing and Memory
The novellas depict the complex relationship between ageing and memory, particularly for the grandmother characters. As they grow older, their personal memories and secrets from the past become more significant, shaping their identities and relationships with younger generations. The grandmothers grapple with revealing or concealing these formative experiences.

Passion vs Social Norms
Forbidden passion and love affairs that defy societal norms are central storylines, especially in the title novella where the grandmothers engage in taboo relationships with their teenage sons. Lessing examines how intense emotions can clash with cultural beliefs and expectations.

Generational Divides
The collection highlights rifts between older and younger generations, with grandparents overprotecting descendants by withholding personal histories, while the youth disregard the elderly as outdated in the modern consumerist world. Communication breakdowns across generations are poignantly portrayed.

Parental Roles and Influence
The narratives focus on parents and grandparents grappling with how to nurture and guide the next generations, as their actions and choices profoundly shape their children's lives, sometimes in unintended ways. The limits of parental influence are also explored.

In summary, The Grandmothers meditates on ageing, memory, passion, generational gaps, and the complex roles parents play in molding their offspring's identities and paths.

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"The Grandmothers" generally received mixed to positive reviews. Doris Lessing is celebrated for her lucid and evocative prose, and "The Grandmothers" is no exception. Critics praised her ability to delve into complex human emotions and relationships with nuance and depth.

Reviewers noted her skill in crafting multi-dimensional, flawed individuals whose motivations and actions drive the narrative in compelling ways.

While some appreciated the bold and unconventional storyline, others found it unsettling or difficult to engage with. The explicit content and moral ambiguity left some readers divided in their opinions.

"The Grandmothers" holds a significant place in contemporary literature. It contributes to the broader understanding of Lessing's oeuvre and continues to be analyzed and discussed in literary circles.

Overall, "The Grandmothers" is viewed as a powerful and provocative piece that showcases Doris Lessing's literary prowess, even as it challenges readers with its controversial themes and complex character dynamics.

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