Women in Love · Chapter
Moony explained
After Birkin's illness and departure to the south of France, Ursula feels isolated and contemptuous of humanity, finding solace only in animals and children.
What happens
After Birkin's illness and departure to the south of France, Ursula feels isolated and contemptuous of humanity, finding solace only in animals and children. She wanders to Willey Water and the mill pond, where she encounters the moon's oppressive presence. Meanwhile, Birkin, having recovered, experiences a revelation about the importance of individual singleness within connection and decides to propose to Ursula. He goes to her home, informs her father of his intention, and waits for her return.
Themes in this chapter
Human Connection and Isolation
Ursula feels utterly isolated and contemptuous of humanity, while Birkin seeks a balance between proud singleness and permanent connection.
Individual vs. Society
Ursula's repudiation of social principles and her love for solitary animals contrast with Birkin's vision of individual soul taking precedence over love and union.
Male-Female Polarity and Power
Gudrun critiques Birkin's desire to control and dominate, while Birkin contemplates a union that preserves individual singleness within love.
Characters to notice
- Ursula Brangwen
Feels isolated and contemptuous of humanity after Birkin's departure; wanders to Willey Water and the mill pond, troubled by the moon's presence.
- Rupert Birkin
Recovers from illness in the south of France; experiences a revelation about individual singleness and decides to propose to Ursula; visits her home and informs her father.
- Gudrun Brangwen
Shares intimate confidences with Ursula, criticizing Birkin's domineering nature; her finality and dispatching of people jars Ursula.
- Will Brangwen
Ursula and Gudrun's father; feels destroyed by his daughters' radiant independence; receives Birkin's proposal announcement with awkwardness.
Key passages
“She was hard and indifferent, isolated in herself. There was nothing for it now, but contemptuous, resistant indifference.”
Ursula became emotionally hardened and detached, feeling that the only response left was scornful defiance.
Ursula's state of mind after Birkin's absence.
“There was the paradisal entry into pure, single being, the individual soul taking precedence over love and desire for union, stronger than any pangs of emotion, a lovely state of free proud singleness, which accepted the obligation of the permanent connection with others, and with the other, submits to the yoke and leash of love, but never forfeits its own proud individual singleness, even while it loves and yields.”
Birkin envisions an ideal state where the individual remains sovereign and proud, yet willingly accepts the bonds of love without losing personal integrity.
Birkin's philosophical revelation about the balance between individuality and connection.
“He must go to her at once. He must ask her to marry him. They must marry at once, and so make a definite pledge, enter into a definite communion.”
Birkin felt an urgent need to propose to Ursula immediately, to solidify their bond through marriage.
Birkin's decision to propose to Ursula.