Women In Love

When Ursula comes home, she tells her family that she is going to marry Rupert the following day. Everyone is surprised, and her father becomes angry and insults Ursula. When she tells him to stop bullying her, her father hits her. Ursula packs some of her things and leaves the house. She cries as she walks to the train station. No train is there, and she continues to walk.

Ursula arrives at Rupert’s room at the mill. She tells him what happened, and he tells her to stay with him. Rupert thinks about how she is like a flower and his resurrection; he believes they have something beyond love that unifies them. The next day, they get married, and Ursula writes to her parents that the marriage took place. She stops working at the grammar school and only spends time with Gudrun and Gerald.

One day, Gerald and Ursula talk while they wait for Rupert to come back to the mill. Gerald notes that she seems very happy, and Ursula suggests he marry Gudrun, so he can share the happiness. However, Ursula isn’t sure if Gudrun will marry him. Gerald confesses that he wants to invite Gudrun to travel with him over the Christmas holiday and suggests Rupert and Ursula join them abroad. Ursula is excited about this idea. When she tells Rupert about the conversation, he agrees and adds that Gudrun seems more of a mistress than a wife because she does not want to be tied down.

A couple days later, Ursula and Gudrun go to Beldover to collect Ursula’s things. Their parents have already moved out, as planned, and the house is empty. The sisters discuss how awful living in the house was as they move Ursula’s things from her room to the front door. As they wait for Rupert in his car, Ursula and Gudrun talk about marriage. Gudrun believes Ursula and Rupert will have a better and more unique marriage than most couples because they do not have conventional ideas about marriage. For herself, Gudrun does not want to have a house but rather to travel extensively, and she thinks a marriage to Gerald will make this impossible.

When Rupert arrives, the three of them talk about the haunted nature of Beldover. They load the car, and Ursula’s mood is lifted by being with Rupert. Gudrun thinks about what life at Shortland would be like if she were married to Gerald, and she envies Ursula’s unconventional relationship with Rupert. When Rupert drops Gudrun at her room at Willey Green, Ursula invites her to tea later. Gudrun turns down the offer, thinking about her own unhappiness.

The following afternoon, Gudrun visits Ursula at the mill, and they talk about Gerald’s Christmas travel plans. Ursula thinks going abroad is a good idea, but Gudrun is unsure about Gerald and Rupert’s friendship. They are, Ursula insists, like brothers, and encourages Gudrun to join them on their trip to Germany. Gudrun tells Ursula that she has heard about Gerald’s sexual relationship with a model.

The two couples prepare for their Christmas trip. Gudrun and Gerald head to London on their way to meet Ursula and Rupert in Innsbruck. They go to the Pompadour Café and run into Halliday and his friends, including Pussum. She comes over to Gerald and Gudrun’s table. Pussum and Gerald talk about Rupert getting married. Gerald says he is not coming over to Halliday’s flat, and Pussum says she is disappointed. Gudrun asks if Pussum is Gerald’s friend, knowing that she was one of his lovers. He admits to staying with Rupert at Halliday’s flat and says he is aware that Gudrun knows about his history with Pussum.

As the evening progresses, people at Halliday’s table begin to read a letter by Rupert about uniting the dark and the light and the “Flux of Corruption.” They make fun of it, drunkenly, calling Rupert preachy and a megalomaniac. Gudrun signals the waiter and tells Gerald she wants to leave. As he pays, she walks over to Halliday’s table, takes the letter, and walks away with it. It takes the people at the table a minute to realize what she has done, and they start booing at her as she leaves with Gerald.

Gerald and Gudrun get in a taxi, and she tells him she took the letter and expresses her passionate dislike of the group. Gerald supports her actions. The next day, they take a train out of Charing Cross.

Before leaving the country, Ursula has an awkward meeting with her parents. The journey after that passes in a haze. She comes to herself on a ship traveling from Dover to Ostend. In a deserted part of the ship, Rupert finds a hidden nook containing unused rope for them to curl up in together. At one point, a crew member sees them in the coils of rope but leaves them alone. Ursula feels like the future is bright. Rupert, on the other hand, feels like he’s traveling peacefully but in darkness. They arrive in Ostend at night and find a train going to Basle. Rupert tips a porter for transferring their luggage.

On the platform, they have coffee and sandwiches. Then they board their train, which passes through Bruges and Ghent and stops for breakfast in Brussels. Ursula recalls her childhood and thinks about her future as they make the journey. As the trip continues, it rains, and Ursula thinks about how she wants to be in a different world with only Rupert.

After staying in a hotel in Basle, of which Ursula has little recollection afterward, they get back on a train, traveling through Zurich to Innsbruck. There, they check into the hotel, where they meet up with Gerald and Gudrun earlier than expected. The sisters are so happy to see each other that Rupert has to move them out of the way of a group of people trying to pass by them. Once in their rooms, Ursula tells Rupert to go smoke with Gerald. She and Gudrun, in Gudrun’s room, discuss clothes and catch each other up on the events that occurred before they arrived.

When Gudrun tells Ursula about the group of people mocking Rupert’s letter, Ursula asks to see it. Gudrun does not want to show her. Ursula asks about Gudrun’s time in Paris, and she describes a party there where all the women were attracted to Gerald. Afterward, the two couples have dinner together. They discuss being happy to be out of England, and Gerald says they love England, despite being hard on it. Rupert compares loving England to loving a dying parent. Rupert talks about Englishness disappearing, which puzzles Gerald and Gudrun. Gerald compares this national commentary to being angry with one’s mother and figures that Rupert is arguing in favor of individuality over national identity. Gudrun suggests they toast to Britannia, and Gerald fills their glasses.

The two couples arrive in Hohenhausen, where Gudrun is overwhelmed by the snow and isolation. They travel past houses and an inn covered in snow, into a gulley, and over a bridge. Eventually, up in the mountains, they arrive at their destination—an isolated hostel. Gudrun and Gerald settle into their bedroom, their luggage is brought in, and Gudrun looks out the window. She feels like they are in the belly button of the world. The couple engage in sexual activities, and Gerald tells Gudrun he loves her. Then they get ready and go downstairs.

Downstairs, Gudrun watches Rupert and Ursula and envies them. The couples sit together at a table, drinking coffee and eating Kranzkuchen. Then they meet up with the other German guests in the Reunionsaal. They meet a professor who introduces the other people, including his daughters and students. Herr Loerke, an artist, continues a recitation that he had begun before the couples entered the room. Gudrun and Ursula have trouble understanding his German but are mesmerized by his performance. When it ends, everyone is laughing. Ursula sings “Annie Lowrie” while Gudrun plays piano. She feels unusually confident and earns the praise of the Germans.

After they have dinner, Ursula wants to go outside and admire the snow. The others try to talk her out of it, but she convinces them to dress warmly and come out to look at the stars. After some kissing, Rupert reassures Ursula that he loves her and wouldn’t want to visit this place without her. As the group heads back inside, they pass by an outbuilding with cows inside, reminding Ursula of home. Ursula thinks about her past and how she wants to be a new person in the future with Rupert. Gudrun, walking with Gerald on a different path, continues thinking about how the place is like the center, or navel, of the world.

Back inside, the partygoers are dancing. Gerald, Ursula, and Rupert join in the dancing while Gudrun watches. A bit later, the group takes a break from dancing to have some drinks. Loerke wants to ask Gudrun to dance but is afraid to, and she ends up dancing with his friend Leitner. Ursula dances with a student while Rupert and Gerald dance with the professor’s daughters. Eventually, Ursula and Rupert end up dancing together, and he gets a passionate look in his eyes. When they are alone in their room, this passion turns into sexual acts that Ursula finds degrading but, at the same time, enjoys.

Meanwhile, Gudrun feels uncomfortable when she sees the other women in the Reunionsaal admiring Gerald. She struggles with the idea that his attractiveness makes him promiscuous because women so easily flock to him. When she and Gerald are alone in their room, Gudrun unpins her hair in the mirror as they talk about their plans for the following day. Gerald’s reflection, which he doesn’t see, unsettles Gudrun, and she asks him to get something out of her bag to get him to stop looking at her from behind. She feels foolish for feeling unsettled and distracts herself by teasing Gerald about flirting with the professor’s daughter during the dance.

Gudrun wakes up before Gerald the next morning. She looks out the window and then back at Gerald; she believes he is capable of changing the industrial labor system and becoming a successful politician. Then she feels cynical, like she is using Gerald, and realizes she doesn’t want to rise in social class. Mining-industry money is bad money, she thinks. Then she reflects on the farcical state of politics in England and Ireland. As she stares at Gerald, he wakes up, and his smile makes Gudrun feel happy. They kiss as someone sings outside.

After they get ready, they go tobogganing. Gudrun faints with joy at the experience. This is the first of many days of snow sports, and both couples ski, skate, and go sledding. One day, the weather is too harsh and everyone stays inside. As Ursula talks with Loerke in the Reunionsaal, the narrator reflects on Gudrun’s desire to talk to Loerke about art and her fascination with his small body. She notes that while Leitner has been involved in the winter sports, Loerke mostly stays inside. Soon, Gudrun joins Ursula and Loerke. Ursula gets him talking about a large frieze that he is making for a factory, and he discusses the details with Gudrun.

Loerke argues that architecture is part of sculpture and that factories should be beautiful. He compares industry and religion and believes art should interpret both. When Gudrun asks if there is only labor, he notes that she has not had to work to feed herself. Ursula asks if he has had to work to eat, and he replies that he has gone without food when he did not have money for several days. Loerke tells the sisters about his poor upbringing in Polish Austria and about becoming an artist. Gudrun considers how she is attracted to the poor, short artist. Later, Rupert argues to Gerald that their significant others like Loerke because he is physically less powerful than they are. Both Rupert and Gerald insult Loerke.

One evening, Loerke shows Gudrun and Ursula a picture of a bronze statue he made of a young, naked woman on horseback. Gudrun admires it, but Ursula doesn’t like how the horse looks. Gudrun defends the horse, and they debate whether art is or is not a representation of the artist. Loerke and Gudrun argue that art is separate from the artist and exists in its own world. Ursula rejects this, insisting art inevitably shows something about the artist. After an awkward silence, Gudrun asks about the model. Loerke replies the girl was an art student and is now too old to model for him; he only uses female models who are under 20. He recalls having to slap the model for moving while modeling and notes that, while the women must be young, he uses male models of all ages.

Ursula goes outside but decides she is tired of the snow and wants to leave. She tells Rupert this, and he agrees. He suggests they go to Verona, and they kiss. He asks why she holds back when they kiss, and she says it is how she kisses. They tell Gerald and Gudrun that they will be leaving soon and feel like the couple is happy they are traveling elsewhere; Rupert and Gerald’s relationship has been tense recently.

Gudrun gives Ursula some of her colorful stockings from Paris. Ursula is not interested in maintaining connections with her parents or England—she wants to have a new life with Rupert, one that does not involve conflict with the old world. Gudrun argues in favor of living in the world, rather than retreating from it. They discuss the soul and other planets, and Gudrun argues that love is the most important thing on any planet. Ursula thinks love is a human emotion, and most of the universe is not made up of humans, so it is not the most important thing. They discuss Gudrun not having found love yet, and she wishes Ursula well on her travels, embracing her.

Gerald and Rupert talk about how long Gerald and Gudrun will stay, and Gerald says they will eventually get tired of the snow. They talk about leaving their old lives behind and living in the moment. Gerald admits that he feels Gudrun is his future, but he also thinks part of being with women is suffering. Because of this, he both hates and loves Gudrun. Rupert says that he, like Gudrun, loves Gerald. Gerald is skeptical of this. The sledge arrives, and Ursula and Rupert drive away from Gerald and Gudrun in the snow.

After Rupert and Ursula leave, Gudrun enters into a battle of wills with Gerald. She asserts that he does not love her and that she is only with him out of pity. Gerald agrees that he doesn’t love her and silently thinks about how he wants to kill her. Gudrun asks Gerald to tell her he loves her, even if it is a lie, and he does. She continues saying that she wants a room of her own, and he replies that she can change rooms or leave whenever she likes. Gudrun says he is also free to leave whenever he likes. He lies in bed, and she climbs in with him. Eventually, after Gudrun cuddles and kisses him, he turns around to face her, and they have sex that Gudrun does not enjoy.

She ends up staying, and he follows her around the hostel. Now they both consider how they want to be free of the other person. Gerald thinks Gudrun seems more complete in herself than he feels and vacillates between wanting to be with her and wanting to kill her. One evening, they go climbing in the mountains to watch the sunset. Gerald is upset that the sunset pleases Gudrun, saying she lies about her love for it. He tells her he plans to destroy her, and she claims to not be afraid of him. However, she keeps him locked out of her new room.

Gudrun and Loerke become closer, which upsets Gerald. The next day, Gerald skis without Gudrun, and she uses this time to talk about art with Loerke. They agree that art should be central to the artist’s existence. One night, Gerald and Loerke argue about Italy. When Loerke calls her “Mrs. Crich” during this disagreement, she admits that she is not Gerald’s wife. Gerald does not respond to this but goes over to talk to the professor at another table. Later, Gudrun goes to Gerald’s room and they have sex, but Gerald remains emotionally detached.

Loerke thinks about how he would be better for Gudrun than Gerald because he and Gudrun are both artists. Gerald can dominate her physically but does not understand her feelings about the world. For a couple more days, Loerke and Gudrun continue to discuss 18th- and 19th-century art in French, German, and English. They have complex verbal wordplay that contains subtle sexual innuendos.

Eventually, Gerald confronts Gudrun, saying he hates Loerke and repeatedly asks why she likes him. She refuses to answer, saying he is bullying her. Finally, she says she likes Loerke because he understands what it is like to be a woman. Gerald compares women to fleas, and Gudrun thinks about Blake’s literary flea, wanting to talk to Loerke about it. She calls Gerald a fool, and he says he will leave soon; she asserts that he is free to make his own plans without her. After she leaves the room, Gerald plays chess with one of the students staying at the hostel.

After this, Loerke begins to ask Gudrun about her personal life. She explains that Ursula is her sister and is married. They talk about Gerald being wealthy from the mines, and Loerke insists that she not go back to England. Gudrun admits to being broke, but when Loerke suggests she ask Gerald for money, she refuses. Then Loerke asks her to come with him to Dresden. She jokes that she is too old for him since he prefers such young models. He thinks she is beautiful but is more interested in her mind. She tries to hold his hand, but he does not respond. He says their fates are entwined.

Gudrun visits Gerald in his room later and explains that she isn’t going back to England: Their relationship is over. Gerald thinks about killing her but says he thinks their relationship was not a complete failure. Gudrun insists that he is not capable of love and that she is not capable of loving him. He is about to attack her, but she leaves before he can get his hands on her. That night, she decides to go to Dresden with Loerke.

In the morning, Gerald asks Gudrun if she wants to go to Innsbruck with him. She replies ambiguously, and he makes travel arrangements for the following day. When Gerald goes skiing, Gudrun packs and goes tobogganing with Loerke. After sunset, she and Loerke drink coffee and schnapps in the snow. He asks where she is going the following day, and she says she doesn’t know. They joke about buying a ticket to London that she’ll never use. Then he asks her to come to Germany again.

Gerald arrives at their picnic on the snow. Loerke offers him biscuits and schnapps, but Gerald punches Loerke several times, and Gudrun hits Gerald. Gerald grabs Gudrun’s throat and begins to strangle her. Unable to move, Loerke begins to address Gerald in French. Gerald, thinking about how he doesn’t care about Gudrun enough to kill her, releases her, and she falls to her knees. Gerald leaves them, disgusted.

Then he climbs the snowy mountain. After avoiding falling many times as he ascends, Gerald sees a crucifix half buried in the snow and feels like he is going to be punished by Jesus. He continues to climb and eventually falls to his death.

Gerald’s body is recovered and brought in the following morning. Gudrun does not cry but sends a telegram with the news to Ursula and Rupert. In the afternoon, she talks to Loerke, feeling like they were partly responsible for Gerald’s death, then hides in her room until Ursula and Rupert arrive. Gudrun tells them what happened and thinks about the situation being a triangle.

Rupert looks at Gerald’s corpse and struggles to see the man he knew. He climbs to the place on the mountain where Gerald fell. There, he thinks about how humans are only a small part of the universe and how other species might outlive them in the future. Once down from the mountain, he completes the official tasks that need to be done regarding Gerald’s death. At the end of the day, Rupert goes back and cries over Gerald’s body. Ursula follows him and is surprised by his tears.

Rupert says that if Gerald had accepted his vow of love, he would not be dead. He thinks about the moment that they held hands after wrestling and about how the dead live on through their beloved. Ursula asks him to come away from the body, and he tells her that he finds Gerald’s death tragic because he was not in love like they are. Ursula asks Rupert if she is not enough for him, and he asserts that he needs “eternal union with a man” (481), as well as marriage with her, to be happy. She rejects this, saying it is perverse and impossible.