A mistake one can make when writing about a D.H. Lawrence novel, is to assume that the narrative is indicative of what is actually going on. Perhaps one not accustomed with Lawrence’s works could believe such, but not I. As Lawrence is known for his sharp analysis of human psychology, it is his use of sexual eroticism, as a tool to pry open the nature of his characters, that most of his works revolve around.

I discovered this when reading Women in Love. I found myself sensing that the novel was about ‘something different.’ (I usually find myself feeling ‘something different,’ anyway. As I’m rather romantic on the thought of not blending with mass opinion…But perhaps it is that very notion that throws me right back in with the masses.)

Regardless, I read the book--and found out what it was really about. The novel was about freedom. Of course, in this case it was about sexual freedom, but the whole notion of freedom cannot be ignored.

The two main female characters, Ursula and Gudrun, are fascinating people. One can argue that they are only trying to seem so [fascinating], but I felt throughout the book that they were genuinely interesting characters. They chose their way in life. They chose their lovers. And they determined by themselves the evolution of their erotic existence.

The two men, Gerald and Birkin--at first glance, they seem rather ‘gay’. Consider the scene where they get drunk and decide to wrestle…then decide that wrestling naked would much better do the trick. Afterwards, they fall asleep in each others arms. I know what most have gotten or will get from that scene, but what did I see? I saw two characters, so comfortable with their heterosexuality that they could publicly manifest any form of homosexuality--without any qualms. They seemed to mock the attitude of the world with an offensively coy “Has it happened to you?” They took the highroad of “I know what I am and who I am; I don’t need to show it.” What better irony than to see people force themselves to believe something else?

As I implied earlier, the story’s actual plot is quite simple, and not to be insisted upon. Ursula becomes involved with Birkin. Gudrun chooses Gerald. One of the couples finds love. The other death. If you choose to read the book only for the narrative aspect, you could better use your time with something else. Look within this book and see what it really tells us. That we are living, thinking, and deciding creatures--ready to make any choice we want. That for us, there are no faux boundaries to abide by. That we can exist beyond the common boundaries that most contain themselves to. And simply, that we are free.