England, My England by D.H. Lawrence [PDF]

Information: England, My England

• Author: D.H. Lawrence
• Publication Date: 1922
• Main Characters:
  • Egbert: The protagonist of the title story. A handsome, gentle man with no practical ambition who depends on his father-in-law's wealth, leading to the collapse of his marriage.
  • Winifred: Egbert's wife in the title story. A strong-willed woman torn between love for her husband and frustration at his refusal to take responsibility.
  • Annie: The protagonist of 'Tickets, Please,' a confident tram conductor who leads a group of women in confronting a philandering inspector.
  • Maurice Pervin: The blind war veteran in 'The Blind Man' who has developed a rich inner life but struggles with isolation and his dependence on his wife.
  • Isabel Pervin: Maurice's devoted wife in 'The Blind Man,' caught between her loyalty to her husband and her need for intellectual companionship.
• Brief Summary: "England, My England" collects ten short stories that dissect English life in the early twentieth century. The title story centers on Egbert, a charming but aimless man married to Winifred, whose wealthy father increasingly supports the family. Their marriage deteriorates as Egbert's lack of ambition clashes with Winifred's practical expectations, culminating in tragedy against the backdrop of the war. Other stories in the collection, such as "Tickets, Please" and "The Blind Man," explore power dynamics between men and women, the psychological wounds of war, and the struggle for authentic connection in a society bound by rigid conventions.
• Thematic Analysis: The central themes revolve around the tension between passion and social conformity, the destructive effects of class consciousness, and the psychological scars left by World War I. Lawrence probes how marriages and intimate relationships become battlegrounds for deeper conflicts about identity, independence, and the meaning of masculinity. Nature and the English landscape also serve as a recurring motif, reflecting the inner states of characters torn between vitality and repression.
• Historical Context: Lawrence wrote these stories between 1913 and 1921, a period that encompassed the devastation of World War I and its disillusioning aftermath in England. The collection was published in 1922 by Thomas Seltzer in New York, during a time when Lawrence was already controversial for the frank sexuality in his novels. The war deeply affected Lawrence, who was rejected for military service but endured suspicion and persecution due to his German-born wife, Frieda, experiences that sharpened the anti-war sentiment woven throughout these stories.