A Proper Marriage is the second novel in Doris Lessing's Children of Violence series, continuing the journey of Martha Quest as she navigates the challenges of adulthood in a world filled with personal and political conflicts. Set in colonial Africa, the novel explores Martha's evolving understanding of marriage, identity, and the complex societal expectations that shape her life. Following the events of Martha Quest, the novel picks up with Martha's marriage to an older man, a decision that proves to be as constraining and disillusioning as it is formative. As she grapples with her role as a wife in a patriarchal society, Martha begins to feel the weight of her personal choices and the suffocating limitations placed on women during this period. Her marriage, initially seen as a symbol of stability and adulthood, soon becomes a battleground for her autonomy, intellectual desires, and dreams of independence. Lessing's prose is sharp and insightful, offering a nuanced exploration of the psychological and emotional turmoil that accompanies the realization of one's constraints within a seemingly conventional institution. The novel examines themes of repression, personal growth, and the search for personal fulfillment in a time when social and gender roles are rigidly defined. A Proper Marriage is a deeply introspective novel that examines the complexities of relationships, especially the ways in which societal expectations shape individual lives. Through Martha's story, Doris Lessing masterfully dissects the emotional and political landscapes of mid-20th-century Africa, offering readers a poignant and thought-provoking commentary on love, marriage, and the quest for freedom.