Lady Chatterley's Lover Summary
Description
Here you will find a Lady Chatterley's Lover summary (D.H. Lawrence's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters Lady Chatterley's Lover Summary Overview
The narrative begins with Connie Reid, a cultured woman from an upper-middle-class background, marrying Clifford Chatterley, a wealthy aristocrat, at the age of 23. Soon after their honeymoon, Clifford is sent to war and returns paralyzed and impotent. After the war, he gains success as a writer, attracting a crowd of intellectuals to their mansion, Wragby, which leaves Connie feeling estranged and disconnected. She engages in an unfulfilling affair with a visiting playwright, Michaelis, and feels an increasing distance from Clifford. Clifford becomes obsessed with his writing and coal-mining, while he grows dependent on his nurse, Mrs. Bolton, causing further aversion in Connie. Amid her loneliness, Connie encounters Oliver Mellors, the gamekeeper of Clifford's estate. Mellors, a war veteran, is distant yet intriguing, and Connie finds herself drawn to his inherent dignity, solitude, and subtle sensuality. Despite Mellors reminding her of their social disparity, they engage in intimate encounters in a forest hut, which still leaves Connie feeling an emotional gap despite their physical closeness. Then one day, during another serendipitous meeting in the woods, they share a deeply moving sexual experience, leading Connie to feel a profound connection with Mellors. She is thrilled to think she is carrying Mellors' child, viewing him as a genuine, "living" man, unlike the detached intellectuals and mechanized industrial workers she is surrounded by. Connie takes a trip to Venice, and during her absence, Mellors' estranged wife returns, causing a scandal that leads to Mellors losing his job. Upon her return, Connie reveals to Clifford that she is pregnant with Mellors' child, but Clifford denies her a divorce. As the story concludes, Mellors takes up work on a farm, waiting for his divorce to be finalized, while Connie resides with her sister, holding on to the hope that she and Mellors will eventually unite.
chapter 1
At the beginning of Lady Chatterley's Lover, young baronet Clifford Chatterley marries Constance Reid, often referred to as Connie. Clifford, the successor to a property named Wragby located in central England, ties the knot with Connie, an intellectual woman and daughter of a Scottish artist, Sir Malcolm. Their matrimony occurs amid the First World War, a devastating period for the whole of Europe and especially for Clifford, who is summoned for duty right after his wedding and suffers severe injuries on the battlefield. These wounds leave him paralysed below the waist and unable to perform sexually. Additional information reveals that Connie's upbringing was rather liberal, with both she and her sister Hilda indulging in romantic relationships during their adolescence.
chapter 2
Following the war, Clifford and Connie find themselves residing in Wragby, in close proximity to the bleak, lifeless coal-mining town of Tevershall. Clifford's physical disability has left him in a state of complete reliance on Connie, who dutifully and compassionately cares for him. Yet, Connie observes an unsettling disconnection in Clifford. He does not engage with the coal miners he employs, seeing them less as individuals and more as mere assets. Clifford, flourishing as a writer, transforms Wragby into a hub for budding intellectuals. Connie initially finds herself drawn towards this world of intellect, shaped by literature and deep-seated thoughts. However, her father, Sir Malcolm, warns her about the potential pitfalls of leading an intellectual life devoid of physical sensuality, a life akin to the one she is living with Clifford.
chapter 3
With time, Connie starts to feel dissatisfied, acknowledging her father's foresight about her life being devoid of the deep richness of sensuality, becoming just a collection of hollow words. Her periods of discontent align with a visit from a young playwright, Michaelis, to Wragby. Despite his accomplishments, Michaelis, an Irishman, is regarded as an outsider by the British elite, which draws Connie to him. She empathizes with his unjust treatment and starts a relationship with him. Although their sexual encounters don't fully gratify her—Connie only finds pleasure through her own efforts after Michaelis has climaxed—it provides a temporary escape from her monotony.
chapter 4
Despite her fling with Michaelis, Connie remains devoted to Clifford. However, she's now more aware than before that Clifford alone can't fulfill her emotional needs. Meanwhile, Clifford's literary success has brought a crowd of young intellectuals to Wragby. This includes Tommy Dukes, Charles May, and Hammond, who spend their time debating love and gender dynamics. They advocate for sex as a natural progression from conversation, melding intellectual and sensual lives. But there's a distinct disconnect between their theories and their actions. Tommy Dukes, perceived as the smartest among them, emphasizes the need for a balance between intellect, emotional warmth, sexual drive, and the daring to use coarse language. Yet, he confesses he lacks the ability to embody these qualities.
chapter 5
One crisp morning, Clifford and Connie, his wife, explore the Chatterley grounds. They find the serenity of the natural landscape disturbed by the encroaching industrialization and the lingering effects of war. Clifford expresses his duty to conserve the estate in its pre-war state and maintain the Chatterley lineage. He suggests Connie bear a child with another man, to secure an heir to the estate, insisting that his wife's physical relationship with another man wouldn't undermine their marriage. Connie consents, though she privately fears the constraints this could impose on her future. Shortly after this exchange, they encounter Mellors, the gamekeeper. Clifford requests his assistance with the wheelchair on hilly terrain. Mellors exudes a natural nobility but remains indifferent towards Connie. Connie becomes increasingly aware of the emotional toll of Clifford's war injuries. She finds his intellectual pursuits hollow and fears his emotional detachment may consume her life. During the summer, Michaelis, her lover, visits and proposes marriage if she leaves Clifford. Emotionally fragile, she hesitates. However, after a sexual encounter ends in disappointment and anger, their relationship falters. The experience leaves her feeling alienated from all men.
chapter 6
Connie's chat with Tommy Dukes leads her to a melancholic conclusion: men and women are essentially mismatched. Dukes expresses his belief that passion and intellectual stimulation rarely coexist, and the allure, the "glamour" that once existed between genders has disappeared. Connie spirals further into despair, distancing herself from Clifford. She believes her generation has been deprived of love and happiness. The only consolation she finds is in the potential of motherhood. During a stroll in the woods, Connie stumbles upon Mellors, the gamekeeper, reprimanding his daughter. She steps in, returning the child to her grandma's home. Later, Connie offers to deliver a note from Clifford to Mellors. Arriving at his home, she sees him shirtless, in the midst of a bath, and his vigor and warmth captivate her. While delivering Clifford's message, despite his detached demeanor and the sprinkling of ridicule in his words, his warm and kind eyes leave a strong impression on her.
chapter 7
Clifford's friends, including Tommy Dukes, are gathered at Wragby discussing the relationship of the human form to future society. Clifford anticipates a world where physical necessities, even childbirth, are rendered obsolete. Tommy Dukes, despite his own lack of sexual passion, theorizes that the preservation of mankind lies in "the resurrection of the body" and "the democracy of touch." Connie sides with Duke's viewpoint. However, her own body is deteriorating. At the age of 27, prolonged absence of physical intimacy has left her looking aged and worn. She starts to feel wronged, and the fault appears to lie with Clifford and his distant, elite demeanor. Connie's melancholy persists and her sister Hilda comes to offer solace. They mutually agree that Connie cannot remain solely responsible for Clifford's care. They employ Mrs. Bolton, a local nurse, to look after Clifford. Mrs. Bolton's spouse, a former coal-miner, met his end in the mines owned by Clifford's lineage. She holds him in contempt, viewing him as a symbol of the privileged class and industrial exploitation. At the same time, however, she is in awe of his wealth and status.
chapter 8
Once released from the burden of looking after Clifford, Connie starts to regain her physical and mental strength. She often encounters Mellors, the gamekeeper, during her strolls in the forest. She finds him one day in a secluded hut, rearing pheasants for Clifford's hunting. Mellors, though drawn to her, is unhappy with her intrusion. After previous heartbreak, he fiercely protects his privacy. She requests a key to the hut for regular visits, but Mellors reacts scornfully, using coarse regional language to ridicule her high-class airs. This happens again at a later meeting in the hut, where he continues to reject her key request, aiming to maintain his solitude. However, Mellors, in comparison to Clifford, seems like a better alternative.
chapter 9
Connie is increasingly repulsed by Clifford’s insensitivity and his tendency to overthink every sensory experience. She feels that he's obsessively focused on success. While he maintains a bond with her, his dependence on Mrs. Bolton grows. Despite his condescending behavior towards her, he's like a child under her care. Mrs. Bolton enjoys her interaction with the upper-class. She constantly relays local chatter to Clifford, sparking his interest in the nearby villages and coal mines, which he owns but neglects. This inspires him to seek success by reviving the struggling local coal industry. Meanwhile, the strain in Clifford and Connie’s relationship intensifies.
chapter 10
Wragby is now largely deserted. Clifford is engrossed in his mining projects, radio, and conversations with Mrs. Bolton. He worships Connie fearfully, who in turn grows to dislike him more. With the bloom of spring and the revitalization of the woods, Connie's unhappiness intensifies. She increasingly spends time at Mellors' hut, where he breeds pheasants. One day, overwhelmed by her affection for the little chicks, Connie breaks down, and Mellors comforts her. His physical attraction to her intensifies, and they end up sleeping together in the hut. Connie, however, remains emotionally detached. After their encounter, Mellors contemplates the significance of desire and affection, and the downsides of the industrialized world. Connie, though aware she doesn't love Mellors, appreciates his kindness towards her femininity. The following day, they reunite at the hut. Mellors expresses concern about the potential fallout of their affair in his local dialect, but Connie dismisses the worry, and they sleep together again. Mellors expresses deep admiration for her body, but Connie remains emotionally detached, finding his sexual movements absurd. Connie doesn't visit Mellors for several days. She spends an afternoon with her friend, Mrs. Flint, and her newborn. On her way home, she encounters Mellors. Despite her initial refusal, they end up having sex in the forest and this time, Connie experiences simultaneous orgasms with Mellors, profoundly impacting her. She feels physically awakened to him and realizes her adoration for him. That night, she's with Clifford, but their connection is irreparably damaged. Clifford starts feeling resentment due to their increasing distance. Meanwhile, Mellors is unable to sleep and spends the night reflecting on his life, his time as a soldier in India, and his failed marriage to Bertha Coutts. He contemplates the complications his affair with Connie will bring and his loneliness. He understands that loneliness is an innate part of being human. While he stands outside Wragby thinking about Connie, he is spotted by Mrs. Bolton, who correctly guesses that he's Connie's lover.
chapter 11
As Connie and Mrs. Bolton rummage through a storage room, Connie stumbles upon the Chatterley family cradle. This prompts her to disclose her desire of motherhood to Mrs. Bolton, who is taken aback considering Clifford's inability to father a child due to his paralysis. Regardless, this news spreads across the village, reaching even Squire Winter. Clifford himself starts to muse about technological possibilities that could help him father a child. However, Connie has no plans to have Clifford's child. She is to venture to Venice for a month where she plans to conceive Mellors' baby and deceive Clifford—who had previously given her consent to bear another man's child—by claiming she had an affair with an Italian nobleman. Connie's journey to Uthwaite, a coal-mining village, leaves her unsettled. She is confronted by a bleak sight of a landscape marred by mines and men stripped of their humanity by their gruelling labor. The modern England, characterized by industry, seems to overshadow the nostalgic England of tranquil countryside and stately manor-houses, everything looks bleak and hopeless. Following her visit, she converses with Mrs. Bolton about her late husband who lost his life in a mining mishap. Mrs. Bolton articulates her resentment towards the mine owners and bosses who she blames for her husband's premature death. She nostalgically recalls her husband's physical affection, which has remained with her through the years after his demise.
chapter 12
Connie visits Mellors at his dwelling, causing unease due to their social disparity. He acts distant and sullen. She expresses her desire to carry his child, but he reacts as if being used. He refuses to be intimate in his home, instead insisting they go to the cabin where they make love. Though they are physically close, she maintains an emotional barrier, feeling afraid and somewhat detached during lovemaking. Tearfully, she confesses, "I can't love you." However, when he tries to leave, she finds herself yearning for his presence, leading them to make love again. This time, she experiences orgasm and the act of sex feels warm and wonderful. Post-love making, she questions his love for her and he declares his love for the openness she provides. This pleases her. They humorously converse in his Derbyshire dialect, which she struggles to learn.
chapter 13
On a bright Sunday, Clifford and Connie venture into the early summer woods. They engage in a heated debate over the predicament of the coal-miners. Connie voices her distaste for the grim and hopeless existence of the miners, while Clifford defends his capitalist stance, arguing that he is fulfilling his role by providing employment for ordinary people. Clifford suggests that an individual's character is shaped by their surroundings, and whether they become noble or common is determined by unstoppable, systematic forces; "the individual hardly matters." A tense scenario unfolds when Clifford's motorized wheelchair gets stuck on a steep slope, prompting him to summon Mellors for assistance. Clifford stubbornly insists on the chair climbing the slope using its own power, while Mellors and Connie acknowledge that pushing is the only solution. Connie silently ridicules Clifford's helplessness, a stark contrast to his previous claims about the power and duty of the nobility. The wheelchair slips, and an already weakened Mellors exerts himself to catch it, further exhausting himself. Connie directs her anger towards Clifford's obstinacy, which she blames for the unfortunate incident.
chapter 14
Connie stealthily leaves the mansion one night to rendezvous with Mellors at his cottage, intending to stay over. She spots a photo of his former wife, Bertha Coutts, and persuades him to destroy it and file for divorce. He digs into his past, explaining his choice to marry Bertha and revealing details about his past romantic and sexual relationships. He opens up about starting his career as a clerk, during which time he had two lovers who weren't interested in sex, making him feel stripped of his manhood. He later switched to a more masculine profession, blacksmithing, and wed Bertha due to her strong sensual aura. Their potent sexual attraction was undeniable, but Bertha started to dominate him sexually, causing tension. This led to them sleeping separately and developing hatred towards each other. He eventually joined the army in India while she moved on with another man. After sharing his sexual history, Mellors transitions into a passionate discussion about the role of sex and sexual gratification. He shares his belief that intimacy should stem from a place of warmth and mutual climax. Connie notes his underlying despair, sensing a fear that genuine passion and tenderness are fading, predicting a bleak future for all. They engage in an argument, accusing each other of being self-absorbed, with Mellors criticising Connie for her inability to open up to him emotionally. However, they reconcile their differences through a shared moment of desire and tenderness, which leads to them making love on the rug. They wake up together the next morning and make love once again, during which Connie takes a closer look at his manhood, marveling at it. They start to use pet names for their genitals: John Thomas and Lady Jane. When Connie questions his love for her, he reiterates his love for her femininity.
chapter 15
Connie is about to depart for Venice, and though Clifford wants her to return, she schemes to break free finally. In a rain-soaked cabin, she and Mellors consider fleeing to the British colonies. She listens as he shares his military past and his bond with a father-like colonel. Mellors theorizes that the rising tide of technology and industry is causing the downfall of English society by stripping men of their masculinity, predicting that men might eliminate each other out of despair. He regrets bringing children into such a world. Yet, Connie, who hopes to carry his child, implores him for optimism. He suggests that the working classes need to resist being enslaved by industry and refocus on their physical lives. He advocates for the destruction of machinery and the reestablishment of manhood. Suddenly, Connie dashes from the cabin into the rain, and he follows her. They strip and dance in the rain, make love on the wet earth, and later warm themselves by the fire inside the cabin. As he caresses her "secret places," he expresses his adoration for her physical presence. They discuss their plans to elope, have a child, and acquire divorces. They decide Connie will spend her last evening before her Venice trip at his cottage. Their playful antics continue as they weave flowers into their pubic hair, symbolizing the "marriage" of their genitals; her "Lady Jane" and his "John Thomas."
chapter 16
Late at night in the rain, Connie stumbles upon Mrs. Bolton, who was dispatched to find her. Back at Wragby, Clifford admonishes Connie for recklessly venturing out in the rain. Clifford shares a book with her that night, prophesizing about man's spiritual ascension and physical downfall. However, Connie now prioritizes the sensual and physical, rejecting the spiritual and intellectual life, and looks forward to a future filled with bodily supremacy. Clifford is shocked. Following a talk with Mrs. Bolton, who often provides her insights into male psychology, Connie discerns that Mellors was likely upset in the hut due to his resentment about her Venice trip. When Hilda arrives to escort Connie for their journey, Connie reveals her plan: they'll depart Wragby pretending to be going to Venice, but Connie will stay overnight at Mellors' place. Hilda will then collect her the next day, and they'll officially leave. Hilda is shocked to discover Connie's liaison with a mere gamekeeper but commits to aiding Connie in her ruse. That evening, Hilda drops Connie off at Mellors' house, culminating in a confrontation between Hilda and Mellors. She mocks him while he reverts to his native Derbyshire dialect and accuses her of sexual coldness. They don't get along. Connie experiences a night of unbridled sensual pleasure with Mellors, achieving unprecedented sexual satisfaction in her submission to his masculine authority, helping her overcome shame and convention. She departs for Venice the next morning.
chapter 17
Connie's journey to Venice is via London, Paris, and the Alps. There, she begins to appreciate sensual aspects of the human body and realises how few people truly value this. Connie yearns for Wragby, tired of self-absorbed tourists. In Venice, she reunites with her father, Sir Malcolm, and others including Duncan Forbes at Sir Alexander's house, a wealthy Scotsman. Her Venice experience is enjoyable but not exceptional, spending time bathing on distant beaches with Hilda and gondoliers Daniele and Giovanni. Connie receives news from Clifford and Mrs. Bolton that Mellors' estranged wife, Bertha Coutts, has returned and is spreading rumors about his sexual behavior. Initially, she feels repulsed by Mellors and ashamed of her association with him. Yet, reminiscing about his kindness and the sexual awakening he caused in her, Connie writes a supportive note to him. Another letter from Clifford and one from Mellors reveal a worsening scenario. Rumors have begun implicating Connie as Mellors' lover, which are temporarily halted by Clifford's injunction. Mellors was fired after his disrespectful response to Clifford's questions about his sexual behavior, which led him to move to London. Amidst the chaos, Connie realizes she might be pregnant with Mellors’ child.
chapter 18
After returning to London, Connie reconnects with a dispirited Mellors who suggests they end their relationship. He feels inferior since he cannot provide for her, refusing to survive off her wealth as an aristocrat's partner. Nevertheless, they reunite in her room and make love. Connie appreciates his vulnerable yet courageous attitude towards physical love despite societal norms. She convinces him to overlook their societal differences and to trust in their mutual affection. Mellors concedes to stay with her and even expresses love for their unborn child, ignoring his societal apprehensions. In a conversation with her father, Connie reveals her relationship with Mellors. Her father, while glad about her newfound sexual fulfillment, is appalled that her partner is of lower social standing. However, when introduced to Mellors, Sir Malcolm finds commonality in their shared appreciation for physical pleasures. Amidst the disagreements from Hilda, Connie and Mellors, along with Sir Malcolm, devise a plan. Mellors will keep a low profile and continue the process of divorcing Bertha. Connie will feign an affair with Duncan Forbes, who will be falsely identified as the baby's father and the third party in the divorce. This plan is aimed at facilitating Mellors's divorce and is more likely to be accepted by Clifford since Duncan is a member of the elite class. Duncan assents to the plan, disregarding Mellors's criticism of his art as spiritless and self-absorbed.
chapter 19
Connie writes to Clifford, confessing her love for Duncan and requests a divorce. Even though he saw it coming, Clifford is shocked and Mrs. Bolton comforts him. Their relationship becomes strange, a mix of sexual and motherly. She despises his weakness yet cares for him deeply. Clifford won't divorce Connie and insists she return to Wragby. Upon returning, Connie confesses that her lover is Mellors, not Duncan, leading to an angry Clifford accusing her of immorality and still refusing to divorce. Connie leaves Wragby for Scotland with Hilda, while Mellors earns a living on a farm, waiting for the divorce to finalize. The book concludes with a letter from Mellors to Connie, highlighting the book's criticism of England's societal issues. He speaks of a defeated, impoverished male population consumed by materialism. He warns of a bleak future without significant change and urges an awakening of sensual power to bring back joy and humaneness. He finds comfort in his thoughts of Connie and their shared passion: "we f***ed a flame into being."
