The Esssence Of Rebirth And Death In Literature

The Essence of Rebirth and Death in Literature

Literature has always been a powerful way for people to express their ideas, opinions, and feelings. Authors often use literature to depict aspects of society that can affect a man or woman's life. In the stories, "The Horse Dealer's Daughter," Life in the Iron Mills, "Barbie Doll," and The Awakening the women of the stories do not seem to adapt to societal expectations. The inadequacy of the women of these stories to meet the view of society has lead to either a rebirth or ultimately a drive to suicide.

In D.H. Lawrence's "The Horse Dealer's Daughter," rebirth is a central theme of the story. Lawrence uses his main character, Mabel, to take part in this transformation. Mabel's role in society is defined by the death of her mother, her father's occupation, as the title suggests, and how her life is altered by the death of her father. She finds herself alone, her household in ruins, and all her money gone. She is constantly being pressured by her siblings to come to terms with what she will be doing with the rest of her life. Her brothers are eager to make sure she or someone else takes responsibility for her life.

Mabel feels the pressure of having to prove herself. She is impassive and almost paralyzed with fear about her future. It is because of her unappeasable life that she seeks a way to find fulfillment. The only way she feels she can pursue this is to be reunited with her beloved mother. When she goes to the graveyard where her mother is buried she carries with her shears, a sponge, and scrubbing brushes to clean the headstone and in a sense prepares herself for her own death. While she is at the grave sight Dr. Ferguson passes by. He is moved by the way she takes responsibility for her mother's plot. At this point he realizes how in touch she is with the nonliving world. One analyst says, "His quick (alive) eyes sees her tending the grave as if spellbound, and he is touched by her conjunction with the world of death" (Meyers 347). At the same time Mabel with her life in ruins, her parents gone, her brothers close to striking out on their own, and all her financial resources gone, decides it would be better to be with her mother by taking her life. She plans to do this by drowning herself.

In three encounters Dr. Ferguson's role in Mabel's regeneration are defined. The first was when he meets her at the family farmhouse and asks her of plans for the future. The second time was at the graveyard when he sees how tenderly Mabel cares for her mother's grave. At the gravesite he immediately feels connected to her when their eyes meet. The third and most important life altering encounter is at the pond when he sees Mabel immerse herself into the water to drown herself. Detailed descriptions of how Dr. Ferguson slowly and carefully entered the cold, foul smelling water were given. The cold being a metaphor for death. Meyers says, "Lawrence describes, in a series of Ð''o' sounds, how the doctor slowly enters the world of the dead and restores her to life: Ð''The cold water rose over his thighs, over his loins, upon his abdomen. The lower part of his body was all sunk in hideous cold element. And the bottom was so deeply soft and uncertain, he was afraid of pitching with his mouth underneath' (928)" (347). When he reaches her and drags her out of the water he breathes into her mouth and before long she is breathing on her own. It is almost as if with a kiss he awakens her; "In this poignant passage Lawrence alludes not only to the awakening of an enchanted princess in a fairy tale but also to three classical myths, Persephone's emergence from Hades in the spring of each year, Orpheaf attempted rescue of Eurydice from the underworld, and Hercules wrestling Alcestis from the arms of death" (Meyers 348). Dr. Ferguson takes her from the water to dry land, which represents life. When she is revived and sees him hovering over her she flings her arms around him and proclaims her love. She asks him if he will ever leave her and he without even realizing his own true feelings he says "never."

Mabel's rebirth begins at the moment of her rescue. From being immersed in the cold of the water to firm dry land, from the cold smelly clothes to being naked and warm, from unloved to loved. Mabel asks Dr. Ferguson if he saved her, "Did you dive into the pond for me?" (Lawrence) Dr. Ferguson says no, however he tells her he walked in but went under the water, maybe meaning he went under the water physically and fell in love with her emotionally. Mabel asks and answers her own question about his love for her, by telling him that she knows he loves her. From this episode she concludes that because he loves her she now has a reason to live.

"The Horse Dealer's Daughter" is a story of renewal through love. Both Mabel and Dr. Ferguson in a sense saved each other from lives of loneliness. When Mabel finally gets Dr. Ferguson to admit his feelings for her she opens him up emotionally as he has never been before. Despite their cold, wet, stagnant odor they embrace and she weeps for joy. After they change their clothes they realize what has just happened and what a life altering experience the test of their love has been. She now knows what true love is for the first time in her life. Love is what ultimately enabled Mabel to have a rebirth.

In Life in the Iron Mills by Rebecca Harding Davis the central theme does not revolve around a rebirth but it is an important aspect in the novel. The main characters in the novel are Hugh Wolfe and Deb. It is his life in the iron mills that is the basis of the story. His cousin Deb, who is a good-hearted person, has an unrequited love for him. He could never come to love her though. Deb, from working in a cotton mill is deformed. She has distorted physical features such as a hunchback. Hugh appreciates Deb for all the domestic care she gives but is absolutely repulsed by her haggard appearance. One critic says, " Hugh cannot look long enough at Deb, nor love her, so even when she appears in loving desperation, with a Ð''power akin to beauty,' his command is, Ð''Go back, I do not want you here' (43)" (Hughes 128). Deb is unappealing to Hugh.

Deb leads an insatiable life. She assigned herself to a guardianship of Hugh. This is of course due to the love she feels for him. She never gets any kind of love in return, nor will she ever because of her deformities. She will do just about anything for Hugh, from delivering dinner to him at the mills to the extent of stealing from the Bourgeoisie. It is said, "She is the

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