The higher we soar the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly.

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence

The Rainbow by D. H. Lawrence follows the lives of three generations of the Brangwen family, beginning with Tom Brangwen, a farmer in rural England. The story then shifts to his daughter, Ursula, who struggles to find her place in the world as a young woman. Ursula’s journey takes her through various relationships, including a tumultuous affair with a schoolteacher named Winifred Inger. The novel also explores the themes of sexuality, gender roles, and the changing social landscape of England during the early 20th century. As the story progresses, the focus shifts to Ursula’s sister, Gudrun, and her own struggles with love and identity. The plot of The Rainbow is complex and multi-layered, delving deep into the human psyche and the complexities of relationships.

The setting of The Rainbow is a crucial element in the novel’s exploration of human relationships and the natural world. The story takes place in the English Midlands, a region known for its industrialization and urbanization during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Lawrence’s depiction of this landscape is both vivid and poetic, capturing the beauty and brutality of the changing environment. The novel’s opening scene, for example, describes the “great colliery” that dominates the horizon, with its “black, industrial bulk” looming over the surrounding countryside. This image sets the tone for the rest of the novel, which explores the tension between nature and civilization, tradition and progress, and individual desire and social norms. As the story unfolds, Lawrence takes us on a journey through the changing seasons, from the lush greenery of spring to the barrenness of winter, and shows us how these natural cycles mirror the characters’ emotional and psychological states. The setting of The Rainbow is not just a backdrop for the action, but an integral part of the story’s meaning and themes.

The narrative structure of The Rainbow is complex and multi-layered, reflecting the novel’s themes of continuity and change, tradition and modernity, and the cyclical nature of life. Lawrence employs a non-linear, episodic structure that moves back and forth in time, spanning several generations of the Brangwen family. The novel is divided into three parts, each focusing on a different member of the family: Tom Brangwen, his daughter Ursula, and her son, Winifred.

The first part of the novel, “The Rainbow,” introduces us to Tom Brangwen, a farmer in rural England at the turn of the 20th century. Through Tom’s experiences, Lawrence explores the tensions between tradition and modernity, as well as the changing social and economic landscape of England. The second part, “The Marsh,” follows Ursula Brangwen as she comes of age and struggles to find her place in the world. Ursula’s journey is marked by her search for love and fulfillment, as well as her growing awareness of the limitations placed on women in society.

The final part of the story, “The Cathedral,” focuses on Winifred, Ursula’s son, and his experiences during World War I. Through Winifred’s story, Lawrence explores the devastating impact of war on individuals and society, as well as the possibility of renewal and regeneration.

Throughout the novel, Lawrence employs a lyrical, poetic style that emphasizes the beauty and sensuality of the natural world, as well as the emotional and psychological depths of his characters. The narrative structure of The Rainbow reflects Lawrence’s belief in the interconnectedness of all things, and his vision of life as a continuous cycle of birth, growth, decay, and renewal.

The Rainbow was published in 1915 and caused quite a stir due to its controversial subject matter. At the time of its publication, the novel was considered scandalous and was even banned in some countries. However, it is now recognized as a masterpiece of modernist literature and a groundbreaking work for its frank portrayal of sexuality and its exploration of the human psyche. The historical context of The Rainbow is important to understanding its significance and impact on literature. Lawrence wrote the novel during a time of great social and cultural change, as the world was on the brink of World War I and traditional values were being challenged. The novel reflects this upheaval and explores themes of individualism, sexuality, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. Lawrence’s use of language and imagery is also significant, as he experimented with new forms of expression and challenged traditional literary conventions. Overall, The Rainbow is a complex and thought-provoking work that continues to captivate readers and scholars alike.

Public reception of The Rainbow was controversial and tumultuous. Upon its publication, the novel was met with widespread condemnation for its frank portrayal of sexuality and its exploration of taboo topics such as incest and lesbianism. The book was banned in Britain and the United States, and Lawrence was prosecuted for obscenity. Despite the controversy, The Rainbow was also praised for its lyrical prose and its vivid depiction of rural life in England. Today, the novel is considered a masterpiece of modernist literature and a groundbreaking work in the history of queer literature. Its themes of sexual liberation and individualism continue to resonate with readers and scholars alike.

The legacy of  The Rainbow is one that has endured for over a century. The novel, which was initially banned in England for its explicit content, has since become a classic of modernist literature. Its exploration of themes such as sexuality, gender roles, and the relationship between humans and nature continues to resonate with readers today. The Rainbow has also influenced countless writers and artists, including Virginia Woolf and Frida Kahlo. Lawrence’s masterpiece has left an indelible mark on the literary world and will continue to be studied and celebrated for generations to come.

D. H. Lawrence

D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence (September 11, 1885 – March 2, 1930) was an important and controversial English writer, and one of the most important writers in English Modernism. Lawrence was prolific. His output included novels, short stories, poems, plays, essays, travel books, paintings, translations, literary criticism and personal letters, but he is most remembered for pushing the limits of what was acceptable in literary fiction. While other Modernists, like Joyce and Woolf, were content to radicalize the forms of literature, Lawrence was committed to expanding the range of literary subject-matter. In particular, by incorporating Freudian psychoanalysis, frank descriptions of sexuality, and mystical religious themes that were quite shocking to the audiences of his time. Many of Lawrence's works were banned or left unpublished during his life and, like Lord Byron, Lawrence only gained the recognition he deserved in the decades after his death.

Although he is now esteemed as one of the most important figures in the early history of Modernism, Lawrence remains controversial. His prodigious output is notoriously uneven; and Lawrence, laboring in obscurity, never lived long enough to refine some of his wilder fancies into coherent ideas. Other critics criticize Lawrence's explicitness, and it is true that some of his lesser works were written more to shock than to truly enlighten the mind with the brilliance of art. Nonetheless, Lawrence was a genius of the highest order, and his most exemplary poems and novels are among the most influential works of twentieth-century literature.

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Something Real

Last night as the snow started, I witnessed something tragic yet awe-inspiring. There was a soft thump at the window and I looked out to see a small bird lying motionless on the deck with its mate standing beside it. The fallen bird was not moving, it was lifeless, but its partner remained close, refusing to leave.

Understanding what had happened, I turned away, but when I looked again I saw something that gave me pause. The living bird had laid down beside its partner, pressing its body close so their heads touched. It closed its eyes and joined its mate in the stillness and falling snow, as if willfully choosing to let go of life rather than live alone. They remained where they were and this morning both were in the same position, lying frozen beneath a covering of snow.

The actions of that little bird reminded me how deeply the bonds of life run even in the animal world and how connection sometimes matters more than survival. In a society that teaches us to keep moving, to keep trying and to keep fighting, we forget how essential that connection is. Sadly, most of us measure success by what we accumulate, not by how deeply we love.

Yet, here in this quiet moment between two birds was a truth that we, in our concrete jungles and self-absorbed busy lives, so easily forget; and that is that love, in the end, is more important than anything else. When it is gone something inside us longs to go with it.

Maybe that’s what’s missing in this world of ours – a willingness to let love be our guide, to hold each other close even when the world insists we must keep going. Nature doesn’t measure life in possessions or accolades. It measures our worth in the quiet, unwavering bonds we share.

If we could learn from these two loving birds – if we could somehow remember what really matters – maybe we could start to heal the disconnection so many of us feel, and find our way back to what is real.

Nefarious

 When trust is broken, sorry means nothing.