RELATIONS OF DOMINANCE AND EQUALITY IN D. H. LAWRENCE

221
For the time being, there is a break in the affair
because of the death of Diana.
Here one may say that their
relation is bound to fail. Firstly, because of the blow: it
shows Gudrun's tendency to be violent with those who menace
her.
Secondly, because of Diana's death which implies a bad
omen for both Gerald's and Gudrun's future.
The third scene which shows Gerald and Gudrun in a close
connection with pain and pleasure occurs in Gerald's home.
Gudrun is teaching Winifred to draw and they decide to take the
rabbit Bismarck as a model.
he becomes angry and uneasy.
When they try to catch the animal
Both Gudrun and Winnie are unable
to pick him up. Gerald then comes to help them. When he looks
into Gudrun's eyes, he "saw with subtle recognition, her sullen
passion for cruelty" (p.232).
In this recognition Gerald shows
that both have common traits of personality.
Gerald then tries
to catch the rabbit, but the animal is too quick and violent.
He hurts Gerald.
While the 'hunt' continues, Gudrun becomes
somehow hypnotised by Gerald's strength and violent struggle
with the animal till he had Bismarck under his arm.
Gerald
smiles, unconsciously revealing his pleasure in having dominated
the animal.
pleasure.
Gudrun is pale, also revealing her perverse
Gerald, then, "looked at her, and the whitish,
electric gleam in his face intensified" (p.233).
The pale
Gudrun smiles and "She knew she was revealed" (ibid).
Both man
and woman cannot hide from themselves anymore their thirst for
violence.
Gudrun thus realizes that this man has her now at his
mercy:
Gudrun looked at Gerald with strange, darkened
eyes, strained with underworld knowledge, almost
supplicating, like those of a creature which is at
his mercy, yet which is his ultimate victor. He
did not know what to say to her. He felt the