Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Sex Scenes in "Women in Love"

I was very surprised that in class with all our talk of Gerald's sexual identity we never brought up his dalliance with The Pussum. I do not read their encounter as just another one of Gerald's many love affairs, chiefly because Lawrence believes it important enough to include in the book. There is something there about Gerald as a person.

I reread the chapter Creme de Menthe after class and realized that Gerald wants the The Pussum because of his power over her, not so much because he is attracted to her. Yes, he does describe her as "simple and complete, really beautiful" (65), but after that, it's all about his power and her as slave, subjected to his electricity (64) - what that means in this context is up for debate.

This is in stark contrast both to The Pussum's view of the encounter, and the sex scene between Ursula and Birkin. The Pussum wants "the experience of his male being" (67) whereas Gerald scarcely brings up her body; the focus is on his own, which he knows she desires and revels in this fact (67). Ursula and Birkin's night together is also characterized more in terms of gender, specifically mentioning "night masculine and feminine" (320) and using the male/female pronouns excessively.

I am not sure what the implications are of Gerald's seemingly gender-neutral sexual viewpoint. Perhaps just that: that were Gerald to not hold back his impulses, he would be open to love with either sex.

1 comment:

  1. I agree. I think Gerald views relationships more in terms of power, that all that really matters is dominating someone else. In this time, he can easily do that to women. I feel like the only reason why he would not deepen his relationship with Birkin (whether sexual or other)was due to the fact that Gerald saw Birkin as someone who can not submit themselves fully under another person. I think this explanation could also be used for the sexual connotation between Gerald and the horse mentioned previously in class.

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