D.H. Lawrence “The Horse Dealers Daughter”

Joselie Barbosa Richard Kraskin English 1102 23 February 2013 Starburst. It’s a Juicy Contradiction Much of D. H. Lawrence’s work is dramatically controversial in terms of sexual relationships. In his time, the English courts banned much of his work because of his “frank depiction of sexual relationships (Madden 693). ” In the story “The Horse Dealers Daughter” is an example of what people think to be love but turns out as a contradiction. The story begins with the brothers and sister figuring out what they’re going to do now that the fortune is gone.

Then, the sister made her decision to drown herself in the pond. But of course, the doctor (Jack Fergusson) saves her and when she wakes up she asks him, “Do you love me, then (Lawrence 140)? ” He was shocked but then gave in and said “’Yes. ’ The word cost him a painful effort (156). ” She then she felt embarrassed and said, “I feel awful. I feel I’m horrible to you (187). ” But in the end he tries to assure her by chanting, “No I want you, I want you (188). ” Mabel had no place to go now that her father’s fortune had gone.

She had three choices but only two were realistic to her. She would either have to be a nun or become a maid at one of her cousin’s house. She was always to herself, “But so long as there was money, the girl felt herself established, and brutally proud, reserved (95),” she never found the need for a husband until now that her money and pride is gone. In the beginning of the story when Dr. Fergusson enters the scene, he wasn’t even aware of her presence until he asks her, “Going to your sister’s, are you(75),” but she says no and doesn’t announce what she is going to do and leaves.

Mabel knew that she didn’t want to live the rest of her life serving her sister or as a nun so she thought she should just put herself out of her misery, but when she woke after drowning herself, she finds herself nude with the Doctor. He saved her. When she realized what he did for her, she was convinced that the reason for that action was the he loved her. She becomes this humble and passionate woman toward him: grabbing his legs and presses her boobs on his legs. She realizes afterward that he was being resentful so she becomes embarrassed and begins to cry.

But in a moment she falls again into his arms again and the kiss for a while. She decides to get up and get him some dry clothes. She puts on her best dress and was tidying herself up as much as she could until he said “ I shall have to go (176),” she went down and had a brief talk with him and offered some tea but he insisted on leaving and she began to grow doubt again and began to cry. He grabbed her and kissed her (183). In the end he chants to her, “No I want you, I want you (188). ” She realized that she was more frightened at that moment then when she thought of him not wanting her.

In the doctor’s case, he was not even thinking about marriage or even her in that way. In the beginning of the story, when the doctor ask Mabel where she is going to go, D. H. Lawrence stated that, “Mabel looked at him with her steady, dangerous eyes, that always made him uncomfortable, unsettling his superficial ease (75). ” He was always afraid of her even her brother told him that she was a “bitch (79). ” When she first gained consciousness, she asked “Did you dive into the pond for me (129),” he said no.

He didn’t passionately save her life, he did what any ordinary doctor do, resuscitate her and that’s it. He saw her as a patient. When she asked if he loved her, he was shocked and terrified, he knew if he said no that she would just go back in the pond. But when he touched her bear shoulder saw the beauty of her and it was as if love at first touch. But what did he truly fall in love with: her or the idea of being with her, the idea of being with woman who was vulnerably humble and submissive to him.

In reality, he did not want to love her, but something tugged inside of him that wouldn’t let him turn away. It was the first time he saw her eyes as passionately looking at him that way. When he turned away and looked back at her, she had this fear and doubt in her eye that melted his heart. He saw death behind the question in her eyes that he yielded towards her and kiss her hoping that the look would go away. When he looked at her again, she asked, “You love me (155)? ” He said yes but it was painful for him to say it, it was happening so fast to him. He kisses her again falling for her more and more.

She begins to cry again and then leaves to get him some dry clothes. He realizes that he has to get back to surgery so he started to head out but she begins to cry again so he holds her once more and tells her, “I want you, I want to marry you, we’re going to be married, quickly, quickly – tomorrow if I can (185). ” In the end he chants to her, “No I want you, I want you (188). ” His heart has won and now he loves her. At first she tries to kill herself and then she falls in love. But when she realizes that he doesn’t love her like that, that is when he falls for her.

In the beginning he is afraid of her but in the end she is afraid of him. In most love stories, the hero always saves the girl because he loves her and wants to marry her and it’s usually as simply as that in the stories. But here, in this story, the only happily ever after sounds like the doctor but not Mabel. Once again, D. H. Lawrence has proved himself of his controversies. Work Cited Madden, Frank. “Exploring Literature: Writing and Arguing About Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and the Essay. ” 5th ed. Pearson. 2012. 692-704. Print