The Blind Man
In the short story Apocalypse, D.H Lawrence writes, "We cannot bear connection… We must break away, and be isolate. We call that being free, being individual." Lawrence puts forward the idea that people are afraid of emotional connection: Maintaining a distance will promote growth. Whereas emotional or personal affection will handicap one's existence and freedom.
In the short story "The Blind Man," Lawrence reiterates these themes in the climatic scene at the end of the story. Lawrence illustrates through symbolism, diction and character Bertie Reid's need to be private and Maurice Pervin's need to be connected.
The vocabulary an author uses to describe the way a character speaks and thinks, helps the reader to better understand who the character is. In "The Blind Man," Bertie Reid's character uses more complicated words, while Maurice Pervin uses more simplified words. When Maurice asks Bertie to touch his scar, "Bertie quiver[s] with revulsion"(12). Further down in the passage Maurice is described as "trembling in every fiber"(15). The way the two characters describe the same action shows how complicated Bertie's world is, and how simple Maurice's is. Bertie uses bigger words to show class distinction. He wants to be singular. "The blind man ['s]" application of elementary vocabulary show's his simple nature. He uses simple terms to illustrate to Bertie that he wants to be close to him. Throughout the passage one notices that the author uses both "the blind man" and Maurice when talking about said character. When Lawrence writes about Maurice and his thoughts and actions, he uses Maurice's name. When he is describing what Maurice is doing to Bertie he uses the term "the blind man." At the beginning of the passage Maurice is "…touching… the rough, short mustache… the rather strong chin,"(4) of Bertie. Bertie becomes suddenly aware that he is "under the power of the blind man"(13). Bertie is afraid to say Maurice Pervin's name. He is afraid of becoming intimate
In the short story "The Blind Man," Lawrence reiterates these themes in the climatic scene at the end of the story. Lawrence illustrates through symbolism, diction and character Bertie Reid's need to be private and Maurice Pervin's need to be connected.
The vocabulary an author uses to describe the way a character speaks and thinks, helps the reader to better understand who the character is. In "The Blind Man," Bertie Reid's character uses more complicated words, while Maurice Pervin uses more simplified words. When Maurice asks Bertie to touch his scar, "Bertie quiver[s] with revulsion"(12). Further down in the passage Maurice is described as "trembling in every fiber"(15). The way the two characters describe the same action shows how complicated Bertie's world is, and how simple Maurice's is. Bertie uses bigger words to show class distinction. He wants to be singular. "The blind man ['s]" application of elementary vocabulary show's his simple nature. He uses simple terms to illustrate to Bertie that he wants to be close to him. Throughout the passage one notices that the author uses both "the blind man" and Maurice when talking about said character. When Lawrence writes about Maurice and his thoughts and actions, he uses Maurice's name. When he is describing what Maurice is doing to Bertie he uses the term "the blind man." At the beginning of the passage Maurice is "…touching… the rough, short mustache… the rather strong chin,"(4) of Bertie. Bertie becomes suddenly aware that he is "under the power of the blind man"(13). Bertie is afraid to say Maurice Pervin's name. He is afraid of becoming intimate