Seeing beyond “the lover”

Keeping in mind the attributes of both oriental and occidental societies, here I will deal with the objective of Lady Chatterley-like living. The narration is a preface to the ideal of “mind-body-soul”–the crux of existentialism. The being Lady Chatterley was neither difficult nor lenient. The characters play in the tumultuous flow of either “all mind” or “all body.” Backdrop of the novel was war signifying a change – economic, political, and thereby social. Social change in a typical Brit culture marked the introduction of “new women” – independent and outgoing. The new woman was ready to take a step out from the sovereign boundaries of her “abode” – a social institution. She was more eager to bring a change not only within the boundaries of her family, but also a social structure. However, Lawrence makes it very clear that this was only a phase of transition, an interlude where the institution of womb was acknowledged by both the societal structure as well as the individual woman.

What was interesting in the novel was how men conversed on using their body for the mere act of procreation, while women’s procreation was tagged with the economic values. In an evening banter that rather tuned into a scholarly discussion; the readers were almost flabbergasted by the idea of turning spouse (women) to a trunk found in a railway platform waiting for the owner to give it a value – both social as well as economic. Here we are introduced to the idea that women were mere objects of pleasure, by which men realised a sense of completion. Even Michealis was perturbed when Constance wanted to have “it” in her way. No man can ever accept the fact his woman can ever be above him either in body or mind, or both. A sense of defeat kills the child living in the man. The child feels defeated, neglected, torn down in front of a being capable of creation.

In the very same evening, the novel went ahead to proffer a definition of power – cause-effect of both construction and deconstruction. The mind nourishes on the food of power, authority, and delegation. In the text, the crème de la crème of the then English society speaks about negation, i.e., antithesis that leads to the initiation of novel, classic concepts of literature, thesis. The etiology of “thesis and antithesis” were opined by German philosophers Hegel and later epitomized by Marx. Lawrence wanted to pen down not only a story revolving round a couple blissfully tied for a lifetime, but also the ideals, the monotony, the interlude that were taking place on different planes of living. The struggle for rights of the working class was justified for the good of the ruling class. Denials lead to upheavals; none other than a mind of a child knows it better. Accepting new transitions within the folds of the society help the structure from tumbling down like a house of cards. Rather, it guarantees the heir of the upper class to hold on to its sceptre.

Men were not satiated with the crown of the periphery alone; they wanted to reign the core too. Clifford in this context was no exception. He was all mind but to continue his jurisdiction he let go a part of Constance. His jealousy had burned, tormented, pestered, and mutilated his soul. Deep down he knew that the freedom will keep Constance in proximity. What Constance felt for her spouse was care, a sense of duty, and a living habit. What she did was her chore. Never did she ever think of being happy in the process. However, the insinuations of her desires, longings were growing. She was lost in a maze, which seemed did not have a pathway to the outside world. These thoughts were silently succumbing her; till the time she was introduced to graze the fertile pastures of the gamekeeper – Mellors. His life was also ripped due to the inconsequential, unjustified, and vague reasons. The reasons that kept him tied to Connie. Above all things, the novel brings to light the justified apprehensions of a father; the outspoken and prudent Hilda; and the subtle mutual disrespect between Mrs. Bolton and Clifford.

It was not easy for Clifford to give himself away to a woman who belongs to the working class. The demanding nature, the condescending attitude, the cold orders ultimately could not keep the necessities at bay. She had to be recognized, listened, and thereby given a stand to speak a perspective of the mundane. However, many might say that Lawrence has kept innumerable loose strings at the end. What I would like the readers to understand here is that he had to introduce the change, keeping himself within the boundaries of the acceptable. Yet, he was a pariah. Moving on to the next novel what we will find is yet another transition where body was instituted as a radiation of subjectivity. Till then, let us be satisfied with only the “lover.”