How can I contribute with the analysis of The Rainbow?

The Rainbow.

An exercise in characterisation.

Every character is described physically and psychologically in huge detail. Nothing escapes the narrator/writer.

The male characters expresse their sexual desires, dreams, wishes. They express very plainly what they would like to do, not forgetting that the writer is a man, he also expresses and explores what women would like to do. Not only sexually, but also professionally. Showing how they dream of breaking away from the traditional role of women in the society he is describing.

The things that happen, In the novel, the events described achieve some of these desires.

Ursula rebels against her parents’wishes, She finds a job, she arrives home late using her studies as excuse, sometimes she goes away for weekends with her lover.

It feels as if the writer is opening the path for social and sexual liberation.

Lawrence’s ideas of love and freedom are uttered by both male and female characters.

They are telling the reader how they would like to lead their lives. These views are very revolutionary considering the time in which he was writing.

No wonder most of his novels were rejected as immoral and obscene. Men were in charge of society, they were the masters, women had very few rights. This was the case for many centuries before and even after.

I daresay that when a man questions the status quo, it is because he also feels the pressures of society. Then, expressing that frustration and discontent in the form of a novel, it is no doubt the most powerful tool he can use to defuse those ideas.

In the same way that young children copy from the example of their older brothers and sisters, one could say that women followed suit.

They most probably

questioned their insignificant place in society and their lack of role. The tabu that surrounded women’s sexuality and the absence of sexual gratification. Not to mention their passive role in this matter. Lawrence’s women think about love/sex, they kiss passionately and initiate encounters. In a few words, they are portrayed enjoying lovemaking without necessarily being too especifique. It is not only a male ridden activity.

In “The Rainbow “ we see social history in the making.

Although there were many other female writers who tried to claim a place in the literary world, such as George Eliot, and George Sands, it is not until the modernist movement that they could openly express some of their views.

In “ A Room of One’s Own” V. Wolfe talks about the importance of a physical, mental and economic space to be able to write. As a result The Women’s Liberation Movement is in the horizon. So is the struggle to have the right to the suffrage. “King Edward is on the throne” sings Mr Banks in Mary Poppins! Before she goes off to a march in favour of women’s right to vote. Are we to asume that these were promising times for

Women? This events were certainly post Victorian and it is well known that after the represión comes the explosion.

Descriptions

Lawrence’s descriptions move rapidly from practical to poetic language. When the narrator/writer describes the inner thoughts of any of the characters he seems to go off in a kind of “rant “

It seems as if he is in ecstasies, or in some sort of frenzy. He goes on and on describing feelings and sensations and flexions, which are very pertinent to the work he’s trying to achieve and ideas he is trying to promote in his novels. The acceptance and the liberation of human emotions and human behaviour.

I emphasise the fact that at first it is from the point of view of the man, but later on it seems to catch on and influence the other sex.

Women probably tell themselves:

“If they can, why can’t we? We are all intelligent humans.”

I daresay many of these views paved the road for the women’s liberation movement.

Other interesting aspects of the novel

History of education:“Úrsula” works as a teacher, there are sixty pupils in her class. She is nearly eighteen years of age, she has no help or support, yet she is expected to preform her duties without guidance. The beginnings of the State Education. The 1870 education act, aimed to reach everyone aged 5 to 12 even in deprived areas of the country.

These were certainly hard times! Especially for teachers as young as Úrsula