RELATIONS OF DOMINANCE AND EQUALITY IN D. H. LAWRENCE

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what she does to Siegmund:
With her the dream was always more than the
actuality. Her dream of Siegmund was more to
her than Siegmund himself. He might be less
than her dream, which is as it may be. However,
to the real man she was very cruel (p.30).
This is very important since it shows that everything Helena
does in relation to the man leads to frustration, more
specifically, to sexual frustration.
Her strong virginal mind
reduces Siegmund almost to nothingness.
man simply accepts it as if it were fate.
The worst is that the
She frustrates him
and he does not complain.
Furthermore, Helena is identified as
an example of the castrating woman, as Lawrence says:
For centuries a certain type of woman has been
rejecting the 'animal' in humanity, till now her
dreams are abstract, and full of fantasy, and
her blood runs in bondage, and her kindness is
full of cruelty (pp.30-1).
Women like Helena cannot go beyond their imagination. They cannot
face sex when it nears their flesh: they deny it, become cold as
ice and quickly try to change the subject.
In the later novels
such types are made to submit to dark, blood conscious males.
But at this early phase, the Dark Gods have not yet emerged in
the male and the spiritual woman is triumphant.
When the couple arrives at the island we see neither are
free from repression.
Helena introduces herself and Siegmund to
the landlady as 'friends'.
This implies that she wants to
preserve appearances.
Siegmund, on the other hand, is embarassed.
His embarassment demonstrates his fear of their proximity and
his guilty feelings over the illegality of the lovers' situation.
More clues are given throughout the narrative of Helena's lack
of desire to be near Siegmund, to be exposed to a situation of
'danger'. The firelight in their lodging symbolizes passion: but