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A review by sharonb
The White Peacock by D.H. Lawrence
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
3.75 *
Lawrence's first novel, published in 1911 but started several years before that (1906), is told in first person by Cyril Beardsall and mainly concerns the relationships between his sister, Letty and her two prospective lovers. George Saxton is a farmer's son, strong, handsome and long time friend of Cyril and Letty. Leslie Tempest is the son of the local mine owner. Has money and is part of the upper social class. There is not much of a plot. It's more the story of normal country people going about their lives, trying to find meaning and the results of the decisions they make (or fate if you are that way inclined). Personally I don't believe in fate, things happen because of our decisions/choices and/or those of others. There is unhappy marriages, class divisions, alcohol abuse, themes of the roles of women in the early part of the new century and how industrialisation affects the country side. It is partly a coming of age novel. Quite a lot of looking back and yearning for the past.
I didn't particularly like the main characters but I loved Emily. It seemed to me that she was the only one who seemed happy with her life. She knew what she wanted. Though actually, she was able to do what she wanted after something happened within her family, leading to them moving away and she was old enough to choose whether to go with them or do her own thing. Had she chose to stay with her family, her role would have been unchanged and she would have remained undervalued.
Lawrence was also a poet and you can tell that in this novel. The descriptions of the countryside are amazing, though may be a tad overdone.
If you want a fast moving plot based story then this is not for you but if you like pastoral character based with social themes relevant to the times then this is great.
I have only ever read Lady Chatterley's lover by Lawrence and one of his short stories before but would happily read more.
some quotes:
on freedom "Don't you find it quite exhilarating, almost intoxicating, to be so free? I think it is quite wonderful. At home you cannot live your own life. You have to struggle to keep even a little apart for yourself... It is such a relief not to have to be anything to anybody, but just to please yourself. When I come home in the evening and think that I needn't say anything to anybody, nor do anything for anybody, but just have the evening for myself, I am overjoyed" Emily. Interestingly, Emily later marries but still is happy with her life.
From another person, "if I were a man, I would go out west and be free. I should love it." Lettie. it's obviously not just a man thing as Emily found her freedom to some extent.
lack of life meaning:
...I knew he was quite awake; he was suffering the humiliation of lying waiting for his life to crawl back and inhabit his body.
Lawrence's first novel, published in 1911 but started several years before that (1906), is told in first person by Cyril Beardsall and mainly concerns the relationships between his sister, Letty and her two prospective lovers. George Saxton is a farmer's son, strong, handsome and long time friend of Cyril and Letty. Leslie Tempest is the son of the local mine owner. Has money and is part of the upper social class. There is not much of a plot. It's more the story of normal country people going about their lives, trying to find meaning and the results of the decisions they make (or fate if you are that way inclined). Personally I don't believe in fate, things happen because of our decisions/choices and/or those of others. There is unhappy marriages, class divisions, alcohol abuse, themes of the roles of women in the early part of the new century and how industrialisation affects the country side. It is partly a coming of age novel. Quite a lot of looking back and yearning for the past.
I didn't particularly like the main characters but I loved Emily. It seemed to me that she was the only one who seemed happy with her life. She knew what she wanted. Though actually, she was able to do what she wanted after something happened within her family, leading to them moving away and she was old enough to choose whether to go with them or do her own thing. Had she chose to stay with her family, her role would have been unchanged and she would have remained undervalued.
Lawrence was also a poet and you can tell that in this novel. The descriptions of the countryside are amazing, though may be a tad overdone.
If you want a fast moving plot based story then this is not for you but if you like pastoral character based with social themes relevant to the times then this is great.
I have only ever read Lady Chatterley's lover by Lawrence and one of his short stories before but would happily read more.
some quotes:
on freedom "Don't you find it quite exhilarating, almost intoxicating, to be so free? I think it is quite wonderful. At home you cannot live your own life. You have to struggle to keep even a little apart for yourself... It is such a relief not to have to be anything to anybody, but just to please yourself. When I come home in the evening and think that I needn't say anything to anybody, nor do anything for anybody, but just have the evening for myself, I am overjoyed" Emily. Interestingly, Emily later marries but still is happy with her life.
From another person, "if I were a man, I would go out west and be free. I should love it." Lettie. it's obviously not just a man thing as Emily found her freedom to some extent.
lack of life meaning:
...I knew he was quite awake; he was suffering the humiliation of lying waiting for his life to crawl back and inhabit his body.