It is common knowledge that women have been battling for gender equality and are still battling to this day. In The Rainbow, D. H. Lawrence juxtaposes male and female life in the early twentieth century to characterize women as men's equals-if not their superiors.
Throughout the first two paragraphs, repetition and diction both characterize and juxtapose women and men to create an intellectual superiority of women. In the first paragraph, the men were completing farm work, using their "blood" (9) of manhood to survive and be content with life. For men, farm work and turning "to the heat of the blood" (12) is enough. The second paragraph, the author focuses on characterizing women and their "desires" (22) for knowledge. Women want more than just equality, or "blood-intimacy" (16) but to explore "the world beyond," (19).
The remainder of this excerpt utilizes symbolism to further the characterization of women, specifically their desire to expand their intellectual growth. The vicar represents a man who could "speak the other, magic language" (41) unlike other men she knew, such as her husband. This vicar is a symbol for the ultimate goal of women-to be considered equal to men. This is especially true in the following lines, when Lawrence writes that women could "perceive" the magic language, but could "never attain to" (42-43).
Ultimately, the vicar stands for the gender equal women deserve, while spotlighting the ignorance of men. The vicar was "the master" (64) because he had "knowledge" (66).
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