# Snowed Up explained — Women in Love

> Chapter companion for Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence.

## What happens

Gudrun and Loerke develop a deep, esoteric bond centered on art and sensation, dismissing life and love as trivial. Gudrun publicly denies her marriage to Gerald, wounding him deeply. As Ursula and Birkin leave, Gudrun and Gerald's relationship deteriorates into a bitter power struggle, with Gudrun coldly asserting that Gerald never loved her, driving him to thoughts of murder.

## Themes in this chapter

### Art, Sensibility, and the Artist

Gudrun and Loerke elevate art above life, treating existence as a 'bagatelle' and seeking ultimate sensation through aesthetic and sensual experience.

### Male-Female Polarity and Power

The power struggle between Gudrun and Gerald intensifies, with Gudrun asserting dominance by denying love and rejecting her married identity.

### Death, Destruction, and the Will to Power

Gerald contemplates killing Gudrun as the only escape; Loerke and Gudrun fantasize about apocalyptic destruction.

## Character check-ins

### Gudrun Brangwen

Deepens her connection with Loerke, rejecting Gerald and her married name; coldly confronts Gerald about love.

### Gerald Crich

Struggles with Gudrun's rejection and her alliance with Loerke; feels driven to thoughts of killing her.

### Loerke

Forms a suggestive, artistic bond with Gudrun; triumphs when she denies her marriage to Gerald.

### Ursula Brangwen

Departs with Birkin, leaving Gudrun free to engage in her conflict with Gerald.

### Rupert Birkin

Departs with Ursula, mentioned only in passing.

## Key lines

> Of course,” said Gudrun, “life doesn’t really matter⁠—it is one’s art which is central. What one does in one’s life has peu de rapport , it doesn’t signify much.” “Yes, that is so, exactly,” replied the sculptor. “What one does in one’s art, that is the breath of one’s being. What one does in one’s life, that is a bagatelle for the outsiders to fuss about.”

Gudrun and Loerke agree that art is the only thing that truly matters; life is trivial and unimportant.

_This exchange encapsulates the chapter's central theme of art versus life._

> If only I could kill her,” his heart was whispering repeatedly. “If only I could kill her⁠—I should be free.”

Gerald feels that murdering Gudrun is the only way to escape their destructive relationship.

_Highlights Gerald's desperation and the theme of death as a solution._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/women_in_love_se/chapters/xxx-snowed-up
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/women_in_love_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/women_in_love_se/chapters