The Role Of Masculinity In The Fox By D. H. Lawrence

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Throughout The Fox, D.H. Lawrence uses the gender roles that March adopts to demonstrate the power struggle between masculinity and femininity within her lives. The dynamic between the characters creates a constant feeling of tenseness and an uneasy mood within the story. When March is first introduced to the reader, she is described as being, “ Robust… and looked almost like some graceful… young man, for her shoulders were straight, and her movements easy and confident.” On the other hand, Lawrence gives Branford the more feminine qualities. She is described as being, “ nervous and delicate.” By giving March more mescaline qualities, meaning she works the fields, is built stronger, uses the gun, and hunts the fox, Lawrence …show more content…

The Fox seems to captivate and mesmerize March to the point where their first interaction becomes sexual. She becomes so entranced by the Fox’s body that she starts to take in every detail and feature on it. She describes the fur’s color, the texture, and oddly enough, its buttocks. The sense most closely resembles love at first sight. The Fox blows her away and makes her forget about everything around her. But, there are many deeper meanings within their first encounter. The Fox represents more than just a mysterious creature, it also represents what is missing in March’s life: a man and love. In March’s and Branford’s relationship, March is forced to take up that role. But, the Fox foreshadows events that are to come: a mysterious “youth” will arrive and take control. March uses the Fox as a distractor from Branford, because Branford “drowns” March with her issues and …show more content…

Henry’s character represents everything that is missing from March’s life. He is even described as having “[a] glisten of fine whitish hairs on the ruddy check-bones, or the bright, keen eyes.” Lawrence gave Henry Fox like characteristics to increase the power and influence that he will have over March. Additionally, the fact that Henry represents the Fox so much is pushed even further when Henry decides to ask March to marry him. Here Henry most closely resembles the characteristics of the Fox. All he needs to do is decide that he wants something and he can take it, just as the Fox can just come and take a chicken. March is once again put under control. Henry represents something that March can’t have because the gender roles in her life are already filled. There are also many hidden, sexual undertones within March and Henry’s relationship. Henry’s resemblance towards the fox is representative of that sexual undertone. Because Henry is viewed as being unobtainable because Branford despises him, March just wants him more. Thus, this increases Henry’s control over

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