D.H. Lawrence's Short Stories Thread

[Janine]

Yeah, good to see you back, Virgil. Take your time catching up.

[Janine]

Here is the next part of the text:

Soon all were seated. Everybody was separated in feeling and isolated at table. High tea was spread in the middle kitchen, a large, ugly room kept for special occasions.

Hilda appeared last, and the clumsy, raw-boned clergyman rose to meet her. He was afraid of this family, the well-to-do old collier, and the brutal, self-willed children. But Hilda was queen among them. She was the clever one, and had been to college. She felt responsible for the keeping up of a high standard of conduct in all the members of the family. There was a difference between the Rowbothams and the common collier folk. Woodbine Cottage was a superior house to most--and was built in pride by the old man. She, Hilda, was a college-trained schoolmistress; she meant to keep up the prestige of her house in spite of blows.

She had put on a dress of green voile for this special occasion. But she was very thin; her neck protruded painfully. The clergyman, however, greeted her almost with reverence, and, with some assumption of dignity, she sat down before the tray. At the far end of the table sat the broken, massive frame of her father. Next to him was the youngest daughter, nursing the restless baby. The minister sat between Hilda and Bertha, hulking his bony frame uncomfortably.

There was a great spread on the table, of tinned fruits and tinned salmon, ham and cakes. Miss Rowbotham kept a keen eye on everything: she felt the importance of the occasion. The young mother who had given rise to all this solemnity ate in sulky discomfort, snatching sullen little smiles at her child, smiles which came, in spite of her, when she felt its little limbs stirring vigorously on her lap. Bertha, sharp and abrupt, was chiefly concerned with the baby. She scorned her sister, and treated her like dirt. But the infant was a streak of light to her. Miss Rowbotham concerned herself with the function and the conversation. Her hands fluttered; she talked in little volleys exceedingly nervous. Towards the end of the meal, there came a pause. The old man wiped his mouth with his red handkerchief, then, his blue eyes going fixed and staring, he began to speak, in a loose, slobbering fashion, charging his words at the clergyman.

"Well, mester--we'n axed you to come her ter christen this childt, an' you'n come, an' I'm sure we're very thankful. I can't see lettin' the poor blessed childt miss baptizing, an' they aren't for goin' to church wi't--" He seemed to lapse into a muse. "So," he resumed, "we'v axed you to come here to do the job. I'm not sayin' as it's not 'ard on us, it is. I'm breakin' up, an' mother's gone. I don't like leavin' a girl o' mine in a situation like 'ers is, but what the Lord's done, He's done, an' it's no matter murmuring. . . . There's one thing to be thankful for, an' we are thankful for it: they never need know the want of bread."

[Alexei]

Since I am back I want to re-join this discussion as well, but I can't really understand what's going on (yeah, I am slow, but there are so many changes around here ). I am not sure which story are you actually reading (is it "The Christening" or I have missed something while trying to find the story title), but I would be glad to read it and discuss it, I think I can catch up with you if I try hard enough. I can of course just wait till you start reading another short story, but since catching up look like a kind of challenge I think it will be more fun . I hope you won't mind. I have to confess that you seems to have a very nice and interesting discussion and I'd like to join the party

[Janine]

Since I am back I want to re-join this discussion as well, but I can't really understand what's going on (yeah, I am slow, but there are so many changes around here ). I am not sure which story are you actually reading (is it "The Christening" or I have missed something while trying to find the story title), but I would be glad to read it and discuss it, I think I can catch up with you if I try hard enough. I can of course just wait till you start reading another short story, but since catching up look like a kind of challenge I think it will be more fun . I hope you won't mind. I have to confess that you seems to have a very nice and interesting discussion and I'd like to join the party

Alexei, welcome back and do join-into this discussion. Virgil has to catch up, also. We can wait until you read the story, and I know you are a rapid reader! Yes, it is "The Christening"...you can find it online and it is not very long a story or complicated. If you need to link to the story, let me know. Also, I will point you to the first page of this discussion if you want to review it.

Next month we probably will take a break; I have already discussed this with Virgil and Quark and I feel sure Dark Muse is in agreement; she seems involved in a lot of the new things.

Therefore, we have the rest of this month to finish out this story. In between, I plan to post some material about Lawrence, where he lived and wrote, maybe some photos, etc to fill in the month's time (the break). I have to break due to some personal problems, but will continue to post daily.

Alexei, glad to be your first friend in your profile page. Hope you had a good summer!

[Dark Muse]

Soon all were seated. Everybody was separated in feeling and isolated at table. High tea was spread in the middle kitchen, a large, ugly room kept for special occasions.

I really liked this discription. I can see them each sitting at thier own places at the table not really connected to each other even though they are gathered around together. The family really does not seem to have any true unity to it.

I also found it interesting the way in which the room itself is said to be ugly.

Hilda appeared last, and the clumsy, raw-boned clergyman rose to meet her. He was afraid of this family, the well-to-do old collier, and the brutal, self-willed children. But Hilda was queen among them.

The clergry man seems to be comical, first he comes in nervous and the way in which he fars the family, and is described as being bony and clumsy, it is hard to really take him seriously.

She felt responsible for the keeping up of a high standard of conduct in all the members of the family. There was a difference between the Rowbothams and the common collier folk. Woodbine Cottage was a superior house to most--and was built in pride by the old man. She, Hilda, was a college-trained schoolmistress; she meant to keep up the prestige of her house in spite of blows.

It seems that Hilda is just leaving in a dream, her ideas about thier family is just an illusion, though they may really be more well-off compared to some of the other families, but they are completly falling apart. It seems Hilda is just trying to hold on to some ideal instead of acknowleding the reality.

She had put on a dress of green voile for this special occasion. But she was very thin; her neck protruded painfully. The clergyman, however, greeted her almost with reverence, and, with some assumption of dignity, she sat down before the tray.

I wonder if there is any particular reason for why she choose to ware a dress of green.

Also I find the clegryman's reaction to Hilda to be interesting considering how he reacts to the rest of the family. The way in which he is frightend of the other children and nervous within the household.

The young mother who had given rise to all this solemnity ate in sulky discomfort, snatching sullen little smiles at her child, smiles which came, in spite of her, when she felt its little limbs stirring vigorously on her lap. Bertha, sharp and abrupt, was chiefly concerned with the baby. She scorned her sister, and treated her like dirt. But the infant was a streak of light to her. Miss Rowbotham concerned herself with the function and the conversation. Her hands fluttered; she talked in little volleys exceedingly nervous. Towards the end of the meal, there came a pause. The old man wiped his mouth with his red handkerchief, then, his blue eyes going fixed and staring, he began to speak, in a loose, slobbering fashion, charging his words at the clergyman.

Here you can see the way in which the family members are seperated from each other. Emma seems more or less oblvious to what is going on, and does not really seem concenred with the activities around her, she is sulky over her baby and picking at food, while Bertha's primary concern is for the baby, and the father seeks out the clegry man, and Hilda, is trying to rule over everything and concenrting herself with the event itself.

[Alexei]

Alexei, welcome back and do join-into this discussion. Virgil has to catch up, also. We can wait until you read the story, and I know you are a rapid reader! Yes, it is "The Christening"...you can find it online and it is not very long a story or complicated. If you need to link to the story, let me know. Also, I will point you to the first page of this discussion if you want to review it.

Next month we probably will take a break; I have already discussed this with Virgil and Quark and I feel sure Dark Muse is in agreement; she seems involved in a lot of the new things.

Therefore, we have the rest of this month to finish out this story. In between, I plan to post some material about Lawrence, where he lived and wrote, maybe some photos, etc to fill in the month's time (the break). I have to break due to some personal problems, but will continue to post daily.

Alexei, glad to be your first friend in your profile page. Hope you had a good summer!

That's great. Fortunately, I actually have it. Recently I found a book at home with short stories by L. I was very happy when I found it. It turned out it was my mother's, but she have forgotten about it. I've already started and if the quotation marks the part you're going to discuss, I've already read it, but I would like to read your previous posts on the story, so I will take a day or two.

As for the next month it's fine with me. I am last year in my school so I have a lot of things to do (well, I know it sounds stupid to say I have things to do, when compare it with someone who actually works, but still it's amazing how something like homework could take a lot of time ).

And the L'photos&info idea is very good . Ill be glad to see it, I am not well acquainted with L's biography so I will use this great opportunity to fill the knowledge gaps. So, I am looking forward to it

[Janine]

First, good post and observations, Dark Muse. I think I agree with all your said. I will read it over again later tonight.

That's great. Fortunately, I actually have it. Recently I found a book at home with short stories by L. I was very happy when I found it. It turned out it was my mother's, but she have forgotten about it. I've already started and if the quotation marks the part you're going to discuss, I've already read it, but I would like to read your previous posts on the story, so I will take a day or two.

How fortunate you found that copy of his stories. So your mother liked Lawrence at one time, too. You mother is probably younger than me. I discovered his work in my late 20's. Before that I read Hesse, like you say in your profile and many other authors. Mostly though I was busy with art college and then babycare. My son will be 35 end of this month.
Glad you read the story already, Alexei; I figured as much with your history of reading fast. Good idea to look over and review all the posts. The very first post to this story - my introduction - is #2194 and page 147 - you will see a photo with white baby shoes and some background on this particular story. A few posts later I begin to post the actual text.

As for the next month it's fine with me. I am last year in my school so I have a lot of things to do (well, I know it sounds stupid to say I have things to do, when compare it with someone who actually works, but still it's amazing how something like homework could take a lot of time ).

Oh, that is wonderful. I wish you all good luck this coming year. No, don't feel that way; school can be just as taxing as work, maybe even more so. I hear some many young people say they get tons of homework these days. It must really bog your down.

And the L'photos&info idea is very good . Ill be glad to see it, I am not well acquainted with L's biography so I will use this great opportunity to fill the knowledge gaps. So, I am looking forward to it

Oh, good; I am so glad you will be interested. I know much about Lawrence's biography; I have read several full-length ones so far and plan on still others. I have a file of photos of places central to his life. I have some on Photobucket that will be easy access, along with others I can upload to the site from my files.

[Virgil]

Hilda appeared last, and the clumsy, raw-boned clergyman rose to meet her. He was afraid of this family, the well-to-do old collier, and the brutal, self-willed children.

Our introduction to the clergyman is not positive. He comes across as inexperienced in the ways of the world. Also it is important to note that Lawrence characterizes the children as "self-willed". For Lawrence this is not a positive thing.

...The old man wiped his mouth with his red handkerchief, then, his blue eyes going fixed and staring, he began to speak, in a loose, slobbering fashion, charging his words at the clergyman.

"Well, mester--we'n axed you to come her ter christen this childt, an' you'n come, an' I'm sure we're very thankful. I can't see lettin' the poor blessed childt miss baptizing, an' they aren't for goin' to church wi't--" He seemed to lapse into a muse. "So," he resumed, "we'v axed you to come here to do the job. I'm not sayin' as it's not 'ard on us, it is. I'm breakin' up, an' mother's gone. I don't like leavin' a girl o' mine in a situation like 'ers is, but what the Lord's done, He's done, an' it's no matter murmuring. . . . There's one thing to be thankful for, an' we are thankful for it: they never need know the want of bread."

Here we see the simplicity of the old man, which stands in sharp contrast to his "self-willed" daughters. He's humble and God respecting and his accent signifies earthiness.

[Janine]

Our introduction to the clergyman is not positive. He comes across as inexperienced in the ways of the world. Also it is important to note that Lawrence characterizes the children as "self-willed". For Lawrence this is not a positive thing.

Well, hello ghost-man! Finally a post from you. I would agree with what you say here. I do think that Lawrence sees women with strength but in this case the woman mostly seem over-bearing, like his own mother. The father seems to relate more to his father don't you think, Virgil? He seems like a very 'broken' man.

Here we see the simplicity of the old man, which stands in sharp contrast to his "self-willed" daughters. He's humble and God respecting and his accent signifies earthiness.

Yes, he is humbled now and I think he acts quilty about his position in the family when actually he worked hard to give them all a softer existence. Hilda seems to me to play the martre somewhat. She seems to bask in her own suffering.

[Virgil]

Well, hello ghost-man! Finally a post from you.

I'm back, like it or not.

I would agree with what you say here. I do think that Lawrence sees women with strength but in this case the woman mostly seem over-bearing, like his own mother. The father seems to relate more to his father don't you think, Virgil? He seems like a very 'broken' man.

Do you mean Lawrence's father? I don't know. He has the same earthiness. But this fellow seems more religious and spiritual than his father. He may be broken but he has the best speech of the story and I take him to be the hero.

[Janine]

I'm back, like it or not.

Hey, you under estimate me....

Do you mean Lawrence's father? I don't know. He has the same earthiness. But this fellow seems more religious and spiritual than his father. He may be broken but he has the best speech of the story and I take him to be the hero.

Yes, true. I didn't think of him exactly as the 'hero', but maybe you are looking at it more from the male perspective. I will have to think about that for awhile. Wonder what Quark things. I wonder where he ran off to also...guess he is busy with classes.

[Alexei]

I finished the story and managed to catch up with your previous post. Thanks, Janine, without knowing what page/post to start from I was going to lose an hour trying to find out the beginning of the current discussion.

I will start discussing the last part of the text posted, because I don't see any sense in going back to the beginning of the story especially after you've made such good analysis.

Dark Muse, I generally agree with what you've said, it seems we have similar ideas about the text - when I read you post I though that you've been interested in the same details as I was

I also found it interesting the way in which the room itself is said to be ugly.

I was curious about it. Still, I am more interested in the fact that this ugly isn't any other room that the family uses daily, but the room for the special occasions. The thing that bothers me is that such room is supposed to be somehow the best in the house - the one cleanest, brightest, with newest furnitures and so on...

It seems that Hilda is just leaving in a dream, her ideas about thier family is just an illusion, though they may really be more well-off compared to some of the other families, but they are completely falling apart. It seems Hilda is just trying to hold on to some ideal instead of acknowledging the reality.

Yes, you are right, but there is something else after this passage that makes me wonder. You've notice how suddenly Hilda becomes Miss Rowbotham. It is much more formal and it sounds more like some kind of title. This is in accord with the queen bee theory - it seems like some final evidence that she is in charge.

[Dark Muse]

I was curious about it. Still, I am more interested in the fact that this ugly isn't any other room that the family uses daily, but the room for the special occasions. The thing that bothers me is that such room is supposed to be somehow the best in the house - the one cleanest, brightest, with newest furnitures and so on...

Yes I thought that was curious. It could indicate that they do not really have many special occasions, so they have not really taken the time to fix up the room, but just use it on special occasions, because it is the biggest room in the house.

And it also refelcts the state of the family itself. When they get together, inspite of Hilda's efforts, it is a choatic event, they do not truly "come together"

Yes, you are right, but there is something else after this passage that makes me wonder. You've notice how suddenly Hilda becomes Miss Rowbotham. It is much more formal and it sounds more like some kind of title. This is in accord with the queen bee theory - it seems like some final evidence that she is in charge.

Yes, and the clegryman does himself refer to her as being the Queen of them all.

[Janine]

Only a few words for now. Keep in mind that Lawrence referred to his own wife, Freida as the QB or the Queen Bee; interesting isn't it? His biography always creeps into his work.

Alexei and DM, you both seem to be doing a good job discussing this. Know that I am reading along. I just have to be brief now as there are somethings I must attend to on the phone.

Hopefully also by tonight Virgil will catch up and comment some more.

Be back later on.

[Virgil]

Here you can see the way in which the family members are seperated from each other. Emma seems more or less oblvious to what is going on, and does not really seem concenred with the activities around her, she is sulky over her baby and picking at food, while Bertha's primary concern is for the baby, and the father seeks out the clegry man, and Hilda, is trying to rule over everything and concenrting herself with the event itself.

You know I have a hard time figuring out Emma. She is sulky and doesn't say much. Obviously she is inexperienced in raising the child and we do know that her decision to not acknowledge the father is the center of the story. But there is nothing else, at least that I remember.