Final answer:
Marji's doubts about the notion of a "maternal instinct" are influenced by the societal expectations placed on women and the complexities of motherhood portrayed in literature and cultural critiques.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marji, the protagonist, experiences doubts about the notion of a "maternal instinct" based on the alternative perspectives and experiences presented in various texts. One factor that might contribute to Marji’s skepticism is the societal pressure and expectations placed on women in relation to motherhood. As reflected in the excerpts, there is a dissonance between societal ideals and personal realities.
For example, the nurse in one text easily dismisses a child’s potential suffering from abandonment, which contradicts the idealized maternal instinct. In another instance, a mother feels displaced by technology in her home, challenging the traditional role of the mother and her connection with her children. The critical examination of maternal roles in society, coupled with the questioning of inherited gender norms, as seen in de Beauvoir’s work, offers a multifaceted view that women’s identities are not solely defined by an inherent maternal nature but also by external factors and personal choices.