Boschman called Lessing 's narrative " ironic " because it highlight the divide between who Alice is and who she think she is , and her efforts to pretend there is no discrepancy . Alice refuse to acknowledge that her " maternal activities " stem from her desire to win her mother 's approval , and believing that her mother have " betrayed and abandoned " her , Alice turn to Jasper as a way to " continue to sustain her beliefs about herself and the world " . Even though Jasper take advantage of her adoration of him by mistreating her , Alice still clings to him because her self @-@ image " vigorously qualify her perception of [ him ] , and thus proliferate the denial and self @-@ deception " . The fact that Jasper have turned to homosexuality , which Alice dismiss as " his emotional life " , " suit her own repressed desires " . Kuehn called Alice 's obsession with the " hapless " and " repellent " Jasper " just comprehensible " , adding that she feel safe with his gayness , even though she have to endure his abuse .