She is probably as confused as Ursula, but in different matters - regarding why she is where she is rather than who she is. Gudrun seems to be unconsciously calculative, and strong headed, but she does display honesty in all that she feels. For her, not being able to wield power over the object of her affection would be like a failure. She also comes across as the kind of woman who wishes to control and wield power over the man she is attracted to, she also knows it is easy for her to achieve this, considering her beauty and (seemingly convincing) confidence. At this point she has a dichotomous existence, one part hating Birkin, the other sensing 'liberty and radiance', and clearly she is confused about how she feels about the afternoon in the classroom.Ĭontrast this with Gudrun's character: she is somewhat rebellious in nature, and questions the rights and liberties the norms of society allow her (when she is envious of men that they can throw their clothes off and jump into the water whenever they like).
Gudrun insists 'one must discriminate' between people who are exceptional and 'little fools', while Ursula seems compelled to agree with her, even when she was not 'in accord altogether'.Īs the story progresses in the next few chapters, we find that Ursula is a rather nave, unpretentious character who sees beauty in subtlety, and for whom acquiring knowledge is not an insufferable quest. Right after this, we know Ursula identifies with Gudrun's claustrophobia in Beldover and 'can feel her suffering'.Īt the wedding, we begin to see some difference of opinion. We sense that they understand each otherfrom the uncomfortable direction of this conversation and,Īs they both wish to steer away casually agree to go to the wedding. And they family situation with respect to the relationship between them and their father, as 'being confronted by a void, a terrifying chasm'. In fact, Ursula, we can still note that they have respect for each others' view and love 'have an unspoken bond between them when they discuss their seemingly hopeless admired her (Gudrun) with all her soul'. They seem to differ in their ideas about children. In this discussion, Ursula comes across as a dreamer of sorts, a romanticist, who believes that marriage is probably the 'end of an experience' unlike Gudrun who is more pragmatic, maybe even a cynic who believes that marriage 'is bound to be an experience' even if an 'undesirable one'. Gudrun and Ursula start off in the novel on a bored note and discuss the idea of marriage. While they seem close at the beginning of the novel, the sisters' personalities become quite incompatible towards the end.
Lawrence (1885-1930) created two seemingly similar yet antithetical characters in Ursula and Gudrun Brangwen in his novel Women in Love (1921). English Literature Essays The sisters in D.H Lawrence's Women in Loveĭ.
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