Banned Books: Women in Love by D.H. Lawrence

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Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence


               Ursula and Gudrun Brangwen are sisters living in the early 20th Century in England. Ursula teaches at a small school with the help of Gudrun who is also an artist. Both still live with their parents in the small town they were raised. Now in their twenties they both contemplate the idea of marriage and beginning a family. Ursula begins a relationship with Rupert Birkin, while Gudrun begins dating Gerald Crich. The story unfolds examining the differences not only between the siblings and their lifestyles but of their relationships and the men they are choosing to be with.
                Women in Love is an extremely endearing story of two sisters simply trying to figure out what steps to take next in their lives. Lawrence created amazing well rounded characters in, not only our heroines, but their male counterparts as well who have as much of a starring role as their ladies. Ursula believes in love and all of its ideals. Her relationship with Rupert seems in many ways to be a model of perfection. Gudrun, the younger of the siblings, has no whimsical idea of what relationships may be and struggles with her emotions in her relationship with Gerald. The friendship between Rupert and Gerald is also one that is thoroughly explored as well as the past relationships they have had with other women. This novel was a view of many different angles exploring the idea of love and what constitutes a successful relationship.
                Lawrence proved one thing beautifully in this novel: relationships and love are complicated. There is no simple way to quantify or express ones love. Love is complex and because of that all relationships can be complicated. Every relationship in this novel was complicated. The relationship between the siblings, the siblings partners, their partner’s relationship with each other, the relationships between everyone in their families were all explored and much more. I didn’t find any of this overwhelming while reading this novel. Lawrence had an obvious talent, with the third person narrative, and transitioning between characters while holding interest and keeping a steady pace. He also was very talented at turning the most innocent of moments into a moment of overt sexuality. It was subtle and yet effective and not overbearing. I enjoyed this novel and found its truthful complexity moving. Others found it obscene and it was actually seized in 1922. The novel was illegal in Britain at the time and there was an attempt to censor the book in the United States with the help of a Supreme Court judge. The attempt backfired and the novel became very popular in the U.S. because of all the publicity. Women in Love, because of the failed attempt at banning the book in the United States, is the perfect example of how trying to eradicate something simply heightens ones curiosity and makes one more eager to explore the new idea. Women in Love was not a danger to anyone but used as a tool to try and display control. Thankfully the attempt failed and the novel is still one praised today for its interpretation of life.  


Studies in Censorship: Women in Love http://voices.yahoo.com/studies-censorship-women-love-7803642.html Rick Russell

http://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/classics/reasons    Retrieved 05/07/2014

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