Lawrence, D.H.: 1885-1930

The Virgin and the Gypsy, 1930 - Thematic Parallels: Repressive Conventions

Lawrence, D.H.: The Virgin and the Gypsy, 1930
This novel explores themes of sexual awakening, personal freedom, and the constraints of repressive social and religious conventions.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Chevalier, Tracy: The Virgin Blue, 1997, ~300pp
  This is a historical novel that intertwines the lives of two women, separated by centuries but connected through their experiences with societal expectations and personal desires.
  - sBoth works share a focus on female self-discovery, sexual awakening, and the conflict between societal expectations and personal desire.
- Hansberry, Lorraine: A Raisin in the Sun, 1959, ~150pp
  Set in 1950s America, this play explores racial and socio-economic pressures, depicting how societal constraints impact personal aspirations and family dynamics.
  - Both works explore the tension between personal desire and societal/familial constraints, the pursuit of freedom and identity, and the impact of social structures on individual dreams.
- Morrison, Toni: Sula, 1980, ~70pp
  This novel follows two women who rebel against society’s expectations regarding female sexuality and behavior, challenging the conservative small-town morality.
  - Both novels explore female autonomy, social marginalization, moral critique, and the desire for freedom, using central female figures who challenge the norms of their communities. They approach it through different historical lenses—race and American segregation (Morrsion) versus class and Edwardian repression (Lawrence)—but the underlying thematic resonance is strong.
- Walker, Alice: Meridian, 1976, ~200pp
  This novel centers on a woman’s search for personal and social liberation, challenging restrictive social norms, especially those around sexuality and race.
  - Both novels portray young women discovering their desires and identity in the face of societal expectations. The protagonists confront social and cultural pressures that attempt to define or limit them. Nature in both texts mirrors the protagonists’ inner journeys and desires.
List of general discussion questions on Repressive Conventions (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Repressive Conventions (pdf)