The White Peacock by D.H. Lawrence [PDF]

Information: The White Peacock

• Author: D.H. Lawrence
• Publication Date: 1911
• Main Characters:
  • Cyril Beardsall: The narrator and Lettie's brother, an observant and sensitive young man who chronicles the lives of those around him.
  • Lettie Beardsall: Cyril's sister, an intelligent and attractive woman torn between passion and social ambition.
  • George Saxton: A strong, handsome farmer who loves Lettie but lacks the drive to win her, eventually falling into alcoholism.
  • Leslie Tempest: A wealthy young man who marries Lettie, representing the pull of social status and material comfort.
  • Emily Saxton: George's sister, who develops a quiet romance with Cyril and represents a simpler, more grounded life.
• Brief Summary: The White Peacock is narrated by Cyril Beardsall, who observes the romantic entanglements of his sister Lettie and her two suitors: George Saxton, a passionate but aimless farmer, and Leslie Tempest, a wealthy industrialist's son. Lettie ultimately chooses Leslie for his social position, while George descends into alcoholism and despair. The novel also explores Cyril's own relationships and his deep bond with George. Set against the backdrop of the Nottinghamshire countryside, the story captures the tension between rural life and creeping industrialization. Lawrence uses the natural world as a mirror for his characters' inner lives, creating a rich portrait of desire and loss.
• Thematic Analysis: The central themes of The White Peacock include the conflict between nature and civilization, the destructive consequences of class-driven choices, and the tension between passionate instinct and social respectability. Lawrence examines how unfulfilled desire can corrode a person from within, as seen most clearly in George Saxton's decline. The novel also explores gender roles, the meaning of work, and the relationship between landscape and identity.
• Historical Context: Published in 1911, The White Peacock emerged during a period of rapid industrialization in England, when rural communities were being transformed by mining and manufacturing. Lawrence drew heavily on his own upbringing in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, a coal-mining town surrounded by farmland. The novel reflects the Edwardian era's anxieties about modernity, class mobility, and the loss of traditional ways of life.