The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd: A Drama in Three ActsLawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)
General
The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd: A Drama in Three Acts
Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)
Coal mine accidents -- Drama; Coal miners -- Drama; Coal miners -- Family relationships -- Drama
What has struck me most deeply in these two works--apart from
their splendid craftsmanship--is their psychological penetration,
so closely paralleling the most recent conclusions of the world's
leading thinkers. In the hands of this writer, barely emerged out of
obscurity, sex becomes almost a new thing. Not only the relationship
between man and woman, but also that of mother and child is laid bare
in a new light which startles--or even shocks--but which nevertheless
compels acceptance. One might think that Mr. Lawrence had carefully
studied and employed the very latest theories of such men as Freud,
for instance, and yet it is a pretty safe bet that most of his
studies have been carried on in his own soul, within his own memories.
Thus it is proved once more that what the student gropingly reasons
out for abstract formulation is flashed upon the poetic dreamer in
terms of living reality.
Another thing that has impressed me is the aspect in which Mr.
Lawrence presents the home life of those hitherto submerged classes
which are now at last reaching out for a full share in the general
social and cultural inheritance. He writes of that life, not only with
a knowledge obtained at first hand, but with a sympathy that scorns
any apologetic phrase-mongering. Having read him, one feels inclined
to conclude, in spite of all conflicting testimony, that the slum
is not a location, but a state of mind, and that everywhere, on all
levels, the individual soul may create around itself an atmosphere
expressive of its ideals. A book like "Sons and Lovers" ought to go
far to prove that most of the qualities held peculiar to the best
portion of the "ruling classes" are nothing but the typical marks of
normal humanity.
EDWIN BJÖRKMAN.
THE WIDOWING OF MRS. HOLROYD
PERSONS
MRS. HOLROYD
HOLROYD
BLACKMORE
JACK HOLROYD
MINNIE HOLROYD
GRANDMOTHER
RIGLEY
CLARA
LAURA
MANAGER
TWO MINERS
THE WIDOWING OF MRS. HOLROYD
THE FIRST ACT
SCENE I
_The kitchen of a miner's small cottage. On the left is the fireplace,
with a deep, full red fire. At the back is a white-curtained window,
and beside it the outer door of the room. On the right, two white
wooden stairs intrude into the kitchen below the closed stair foot
door. On the left, another door._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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