American writer Gertrude Stein was born in 1874 in USA and died in 1946 in Paris, where she lived since 1903. Stein is known primarily for numerous literary experiments in the field of language and form. “Three Lives” is the name of her first book that was published. It is a book that is divided into three stories of tree women “The Good Anna,” “Melanctha,” and “The Gentle Lena.” These heroines have nothing in common; however there are certain similarities in their stories. They live in the same place, a small American town; stories also have a common theme, which is a defeat of feminine individualization. All three characters end up in suicidal depression and death.

“The Gentle Lena,” the third and the last story in “Three Lives”, is about the life of Lena from Germany, a girl that immigrated to the US. She was never asked if she wanted to go, and all life changing decisions were made by her relatives. At first she worked as a maid, but soon her family decided that it was time for her to get married and they found a perfect “match” for her – Herman Kreder, whose family also emigrated from Germany. They both were acutely passive, sad and weak-willed, and their marriage brought no luck or happiness to either of them. Lena gave birth to three children, but, unfortunately, did not survive the fourth childbirth, and neither did the baby. Herman was left to raise three children on his own, but he did not miss his wife. This simple story develops into a tragic conclusion and the reader can feel the tension and upcoming tragedy while reading it. Lena’s self-identity remains undeveloped; her existence can be compared to suffering, as the word “love” is never mentioned in the description of her relationship with her husband. The ending of the story is quite fatal. There are no murders, suicides, escapes and other possible dramatic outcomes, but the inevitable death that came with the birth of her fourth child and the cold indifference of her husband evoke pity and sympathy towards The Gentle Lena.