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RELATIONS OF DOMINANCE AND EQUALITY IN D. H. LAWRENCE

RELATIONS OF DOMINANCE AND EQUALITY IN D. H. LAWRENCE

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281<br />

(ibid).<br />

March's answer is an attempt to disguise her feelings.<br />

But Banford seems to get the meaning of March's cry and says:<br />

'"Oh, Nellie, I hope you aren't jumpy and nervy. I feel I can't<br />

stand another thing! Whoever did you mean? Did you mean Henry?'"<br />

(ibid).<br />

The fact that Banford refers to Henry and says she cannot<br />

stand another 'thing' may imply that she is becoming aware of the<br />

puzzled personality of March.<br />

lose March to the young man.<br />

Banford may be feeling afraid to<br />

That seems why she cannot stand her<br />

new mood.<br />

And once more March disguises her feelings saying to<br />

Banford '"yes. I suppose so,'... She would never confess to the<br />

fox" (p.113).<br />

Two important events happen.this same night which are worth<br />

examining.<br />

The first one is Henry's sense of ownership of the<br />

house and of March's will.<br />

goes and gets tea for him.<br />

He wants some tea: March obediently<br />

The fact that he is a visitor does<br />

not account for the attitude March takes.<br />

Previously it was<br />

Banford who was in charge of the housework, now March replaces<br />

her. The reversal of roles starts here. Banford is the same,<br />

but March is beginning to change.<br />

Henry is the main reason for<br />

her change. The second event refers to Henry and Banford. Now<br />

he starts calling her strictly<br />

'Miss Banford' which implies his<br />

wish to keep her as distant as possible from him.<br />

It is not<br />

respect that makes him alter his way of addressing her, but a<br />

way to see her as an older person who has nothing to do with<br />

him.<br />

The hunting of March is re-initiated as soon as Banford<br />

goes to bed.<br />

It is here that March seems to contradict<br />

Lawrence's narrative.<br />

Henry, directing again the conversation,<br />

asks March about her involuntary cry and she says that '"Why, I<br />

thought you were the fox!'" (ibid).<br />

On this same page, at the

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