 <unk> called Lessing 's narrative " ironic " because it highlights the divide between who Alice is and who she thinks she is , and her efforts to pretend there is no discrepancy . Alice refuses to acknowledge that her " maternal activities " stem from her desire to win her mother 's approval , and believing that her mother has " betrayed and abandoned " her , Alice turns to Jasper as a way to " continue to sustain her beliefs about herself and the world " . Even though Jasper takes advantage of her adoration of him by <unk> her , Alice still clings to him because her self @-@ image " vigorously qualifies her perception of [ him ] , and thus <unk> the denial and self @-@ deception " . The fact that Jasper has turned to homosexuality , which Alice dismisses as " his emotional life " , " suits her own <unk> desires " . Kuehn called Alice 's obsession with the " <unk> " and " repellent " Jasper " just <unk> " , adding that she feels safe with his <unk> , even though she has to endure his abuse . 
