THE SUBJECTIVE WORK:
A study about the book Women in Love.
In Women in Love an anlysis is made of the monolithic and closed structure of the English social classes. On one side, the action happens in Shortland, the world of the Crich family, the owners of the mines and even the organizers of the community spaces in the town. On the other hand, there is Beldover and the world of Brangwen. The problem lies in the Industrial North, in Nottingham, which the writer is very familiar with.

This contrast between his social evironment and the urban world is reflected in the life of the miners, typical of society in pre-industrial England, where our principal characters live. This is a world which serves as a background in the relationships of the characters. D.H.Lawrence deeply describes this atmosphere, definingthe poverty which the miner suffers, who lives in poor districts, where Lawrence usually mingled. The main feminine characters also mingle in these poor districts in spite of their belonging to a class higher than that of the miners. Both find themselves in a intermediary social class.

Ursula and Gudrun are school teachers.

Gerald, Rupert, Hermoine...they find themselves at the height of the social ladder. They are part of the dominating opperesive class.

In the novel the outstanding figure is Gerald.

In this environment D.H.Lawrence makes an exhaustive analysis of determined circumstances, such as the change from a paternalistic industrialization, which is represented by Gerald's old father, Thomas Crich, to modern ways of production which are reflected in Gerald's character.

It is Gerald who is in charge of the mines. In Gerald pre-industrial characteristics can be found, for instance the introduction to new machinery. This is a domineering character; the miner is always beholden to him. He has the typical conventional mikkle.class character. Considering he is the maximum representative of this domineering class, he is critized by the miners on a whole.

This character specifically reflects the logical perseveranceof the two worlds.At the same time Gerald strives to maintain the distance between his social position or social class and the lower class (that of the miners), he fails to keep to this, and gets close to that world in which the miner moves and lives. Gerald's likings tend toward prostuites and he frequents the bars of the miners.The difference between him and his father is that his father closes the distance mentioned above. Because of this, one can discuss a paternalistic industrialization. His father does not have the same character as he does. On the contrary Gerald is of the opinion that the miners receive what they deserve. In the Crich family one can observe the different points of view this family have towards the miner:

Gerald believes the reason for which his father does not see social barriers between classes is because during his life he exploited the miners and is now ashamed of it.

Ursula and Gudrun belong to the lower country middle class (they are shool teachers), which is evolved around religious unconformity.

D.H.Lawrence builds a social panorama of contemporary England and presents a situation of crisis which is destined to determine death and destruction, which have been generated by this social hierarchy that one can observe in the underground outlook of the miners. One can also observe the final tragic end in the Crich family. A family which is condemned to desappear.
 
 

The amorous personal relationships play an important role in the novel. This matter forms a part of dual reality which involves his work. Parallel to the criticism made on his social environment. Lawrence makes an analysis of the characters and their personal relationships.

The novel behins in a characteristic way, with the image of two single women (spinsters) arguing about therir amorous future. This fact precedes the development of the relationships between Ursula and Birkin and between Gudrun and Gerald.

In the novel D.H.Lawrence focuses his analysis in two relationships-man/woman- and in another two-woman/woman and man/man.

The relationship between Ursula and Rupert is one which is deeply armorous. But the sexual relation also play an important role. Ursula is the first to fall in love. Rupert follows her. Because he had a relationship with Hermoine. Rupert breaks this relaitonship in an abrupt manner.This relationship ends up in this way due to the domineering attitude of Hermoine. She is so possessive to the point that she uses violence when she feels angry, becaus she cannot let the situation get the better of her.

One can establish a parallelism in this relationship because Hermoine represents the opposite role. Rupert rebels againsty her and breaks off this relationship which is drowning him. Rupert finds in Ursula what he is looking for. A person who is not cold and calculating, but a kind and warm person who shares his world. Both characters are complemented in love and in thought. Rupert wants to consolidate his relationship with Ursula by marrying her. But Ursula is reluctant and she is doubting for a while.

Gudrun thinks marriage is an experience-an inevitable step and it is becaus man has designated it so. Gudrun wishes an attractive man of sufficient financial means. This wish is reflected in Gerald, but their relationship is rather unusual because she is cynical and she likes to play.

On the contrary Gerald thinks that he cannot find true love with one woman, but upon knowing Gudrun changes his mind. He now wishes to marry her. The relationship between both develops parrelly to thta of Ursula and Rupert, but in a different manner.

D.H. Lawrence makes the reader believe that both are in love, but it sis not so. Gudrun only feels an attraction for Gerald becaus he is what she is looking for-an attractive man with sufficiwnr financial means.
 
 

CONCLUSION
In Women in Love D.H. Lawrence outlines the development of an English family and the logical perseverance existing between the two worlds: the conventional middle-class world and the lower-class.He concentrates on these matters becaus he himself has lived them.

The author makes a thorough study of the England which heredited the crisis of the Victorian Era. An england which is looking for new values, after having cas aside everything proceeding from that Era.

The novel is made up of a binary opposition system (Ursula-Birkin; Gudrun-Gerald...).This is a system of oppositions which is never resolved and which continually maintain the terms of polarity which are present.
 
 

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Created: 18/5/99 Updated: 21/5/99