Published in 1922, D.H. Lawrence’s short story “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” is considered to be one of his best-known pieces and is frequently covered and studied in literature and academia. The whole setting of the story stands to be around 20th-century Europe. It centers on Mabel Pervin, daughter of a deceased horse trader, and her dealings with Joe, Fred, and Malcolm, three of her siblings.
David Herbert Lawrence lived from 11 September 1885 to 2 March 1930. His modernist works celebrate sensuality and instinct while reflecting on modernity, societal estrangement, and industrialization. Sons and Lovers, The Rainbow, Women in Love, and Lady Chatterley’s Lover, four of his best-known books, were the targets of censorship trials due to their radical depictions of sexuality and the use of graphic language. The story “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” by D.H. Lawrence was written in the winter of 1916.
The Horse Dealer’s Daughter | Summary and Analysis
The Pervin siblings are left alone after the death of their father, they are in shambles due to their financial conditions. Mabel, in particular, has been fighting impulses of pointlessness and despair. She feels alone and alienated in a world surrounded by suffering. She is slowly succumbing to her own sadness and gloom.
A local doctor named Jack Ferguson is equally unsatisfied with his own life when Mabel first meets him. She makes an attempt at suicide, but Jack Fergusson, a young doctor, saves her from drowning and brings her back to life. Slowly Mabel and Jack start to develop a close relationship. At first, he finds the kissing to be an offensive “violation of his professional honor” since it “introduces the personal element.” He yields to her because of her gaze, her bringing him to her, and his stroking of her shoulder, which feels hot to the touch. He then realizes that he wants to hug her forever, his heart aching in a terrible way. The rest of the narrative concentrates on how Mabel and Jack’s relationship develops. Although Jack is initially hesitant to pursue a romantic relationship with Mabel, he soon comes to understand his feelings for her. Mabel, on the other hand, discovers comfort and meaning in their developing relationship.
A common interpretation of “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” is that it is a story of redemption and rebirth. The bond between Mabel and Jack after her attempt at suicide comes like a methodical second chance at life for Mabel.
Mabel regains her sense of self and determination to live thanks to their affection. The depths of psychology and complicated emotions are explored in Lawrence’s storytelling. It explores the state of humanity, the pursuit of meaning, and the healing potential of love. Because of its investigation of themes and representation of emotional and psychological states, “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” is regarded as a key work in Lawrence’s body of literature. The story’s core theme is loneliness. The characters, especially Mabel, Joe, and Jack, feel intense loneliness and alienation from the outside world. Mabel’s lack of purpose and desperation demonstrate the negative effects of isolation, while her relationship with Jack suggests the possibility of healing.
The concepts of death and rebirth are both literally and metaphorically explored throughout as the plot unfolds.
Mabel’s attempt at suicide symbolizes the passing of her former self, her desperation, and her quest for purpose. But Jack’s ability to save her represents a resurrection and the prospect of a fresh start. The water image, especially the pond, symbolizes rebirth’s transformational power. The theme of love is a major one in the story itself. The bond between Mabel and Jack serves as a metaphor for the healing power of love, they both find meaning in a seemingly meaningless world, and they develop a sense of belonging with each other. The themes of salvation and redemption are explored in the story through the characters of Jack and Mabel.
The dynamics of power and gender are also discussed in the narrative. Mabel experiences discrimination and injustice because she is a woman in a patriarchal culture. Her friendship with Jack empowers her and challenges gender norms. Their relationship’s evolution from one of savior and victim to one of equals shows how power dynamics have been subverted. The story often uses the natural world as a symbol. The characters’ interactions with nature mirror their emotional states, and the pond symbolizes the threshold between life and death. Their change and the emergence of fresh possibilities are supported by the surrounding natural environment. Throughout the novel, the opposing emotions of despair and optimism are explored. The promise and potential that Mabel experiences as a result of her friendship with Jack are contrasted with her early desperation and pessimism.
Although the precise location of “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter” is unknown, several academics have concurred that it most likely takes place in Eastwood, the hometown of Lawrence. Lawrence was well-known for employing the topic of love’s redeeming qualities throughout his career, especially when it was set in exceptionally hopeless situations. The effects of patriarchy and misogyny on women are other important issues. Lawrence is known more for his subject matter and writing style than his framework. The psychological aspects of familial relationships and those between a man and a woman are discussed in this tale. It is a story about love and the connections between love and a number of other things, including power, familial relationships and conflicts, sex (in all of its repelling, alluring, physical, and emotional components), death, and rebirth. Few authors could deal with such significant issues in a short piece of fiction without even the slightest indication of strain, cliché, or oversimplification. Mabel believes that when Jack saved her, it had become of his unrequited feelings for her, whereas Jack believes that saving her was merely an act of duty, born out of sincerity and not love. Only when Mabel assumes the dominant position is this split brought together. Jack is forced to believe in love by her. She says again, “You love me; I know you love me.” Mabel thinks that because Jack carried her to the house, undressed her by the fire, and saved her from the lake, he is essentially taking care of her and must continue to do so. Mabel finds this to be a circumstance that also makes her believe that her family too does not seem to care about what happens to her. Jack rejected the idea of being in love with her but towards the later half of the story, he found himself uncontrollably attracted towards her. She was essentially her own victim, and Jack was the only one to offer to help.
After settling his internal battle, Jack yields to Mabel’s authority and her desire for affection. He is not entirely happy with the whole idea of loving Mabel but also being her caretaker. He loves that she is defenseless, but he hates that she put him in this predicament. In response, Mabel says, “I’m so awful. I’m so awful. You can’t want to love me. I’m horrible.” Mabel is aware of his mixed emotions.
Jack does not attempt to evade this uncomfortable situation by capitalizing on Mabel’s skepticism.
Love is a way of submitting in Lawrence’s universe. To force her male counterpart to give in to her desires, Mabel, the dominant female, uses force. Originally strangers, these two individuals have now impulsively and hastily become committed to one another. Nearly all of Jack and Mabel’s interaction is forced. Jack should be married to Mabel for the rest of his life because he saves her from drowning and she commands his devotion. What Jack perceived as a straightforward yet valiant rescue became a commitment for the rest of his life. According to Lawrence, by saving Mabel, Jack is reunited with her. The bond between Jack and Mabel is largely unintentional. What appeared to be a straightforward yet valiant rescue became a lifetime commitment. Lawrence contends that although Jack’s love for Mabel is motivated by guilt rather than genuine passion, they are nevertheless bonded through love as a result of saving her. Lawrence is adamant that love is a concoction of irrational, impulsive feelings and that Jack and Mabel are fated to be together because of this kind of love.
Mabel’s mother, who passed away when she was just 14 years old, seemed to be the only person Mabel could hold a human connection. Mabel still has a strong, worshiping love for her mother, even at the age of 27. Simply put, Mabel feels “her own glorification, approaching her dead mother, who was glorified,” because of her strong love for her deceased mother, according to Lawrence (143). Mabel plans to go with her mother to the grave. Jack must confront his growing desire for Mabel as a result of Mabel remaining naked for a long time. Finally, Jack is forced to give up the façade of the helpful doctor and embrace his newfound love for Mabel due to her desperate desire for his affection. Although Mabel and Jack finally admit their love for one another, this is a love story without a happy conclusion. Mabel is “frightened… almost more than her horror lest he should not want her” at the very moment that Jack makes it clear that he wants her and is even ready to marry her right away (152). Lawrence was a writer who made it a point to capture the complexity of human nature. Love is therefore poorly felt and experienced in this novel.
The Horse Dealer’s Daughter | Characters
Mabel Pervin: She is the story’s main protagonist. Her father passed away, which left her solely responsible for her family. All her troubles and responsibilities made her alienated from human connection and hence: she became depressed.
Fred Henry: One of Mabel’s brothers is Fred. He is the youngest child and is thought to be reckless and careless. Throughout the novel, Fred tries to help Mabel in his own way out of concern for her wellbeing.
Joe Pervin: Joe, a doctor by profession, is Mabel’s brother. He is presented as realistic and useful. Mabel and Joe initially do not have a relationship but slowly towards the end, Joe seems to be involved in Mabel’s life.
Malcolmson: Malcolmson is a doctor and an acquaintance of Joe and Fred. He is a realistic and logical individual who initially tries to comfort Mabel but ends up falling in love with her.
Fergusson: Another doctor who shows up at the story’s conclusion is Fergusson. He is shown as being cold and emotionless, just caring about the medical side of Mabel’s health.