Gates of Ivory by Margaret Drabble

In a world surrounded by war, death, and atrocity, it sometimes seems as if there is nowhere positive for the characters in the Gates of Ivory by Margaret Drabble to turn. In the mist of these bad images Drabble juxtaposes a unique view into the world of women’s reproduction and menstruation that has rarely been revealed in other novels. She shows that menstruation exposes feelings ranging from liberation and empowerment in Alix Bowen, to shame, disgust and sorrow in Mme. Savet Akrun. Drabble identifies similarities between women on both sides of the world, and between reproduction and women combating the death of the world’s war. Yet throughout these hard times and uncertainties, the women in the novel show their strength and power because they hold the key to keeping mankind alive: reproduction.

Alix’s outward expressions greatly exemplify what a lot of the women in the novel want to be. They want to feel the control that Alix displays over her body. Unfortunately for Alix, this feeling is not true on the inside. Alix holds a great deal of uncertainty and insecurity within herself. This feeling of inadequacy began in early childhood. Alix feels the need to be a savior, a protector and an activist. She wants to do “important” and “worthy” things, but she can never live up to her own standards. In childhood, when her pet tortoise dies, she is “terrified, [and] after a few days summoned up courage to approach the immobile shell.” (194). The thought of not being able to help the tortoise, or save him, crushed Alix. She shows how vulnerable she is to failure, question and doubt. If everything is not perfect, Alix’s sense of control in a situation disappears. The same feelings possess Alix in her adult life. She constantly strives for the betterment of something, particularly women’s menstrual protection, but she feels confused and scared when she becomes even the slightest bit unsure about it. She says, “I used to contend that if the tampon had been invented a few thousand years earlier, the whole history of womanhood would have been different. Now I’m not so sure”(156). Alix attests that women’s rights, like tampons, are on “the onward march of progress” and are “the liberator of womankind”, but what this progress and liberation will bring puzzles Alix (155; 156). The fact that there is no plan on exactly how to solve the problem scares Alix.