#19 The Rainbow

Part I:  From the beginning of time, men have relentlessly contemplated the battle between strength and wisdom, brawn and brains.  For centuries, there has existed a war between the two ideas- for at first glimpse, brawn seems to bear the most obvious power, yet upon further examination, knowledge wins out.  In D.H. Lawrence’s The Rainbow, this dilemma is debated in the mind of a woman.  Through his utilization of contrasting tones and metaphoric comparison, Lawrence characterizes the woman as both a thoughtful observer and a universal truth, emphasizing the paradoxical struggle that exists between man and beast, where often times, wisdom becomes brawn and man becomes animal.

            As suddenly as it began, this prose passage shifts in tone.  After characterizing the Brangwen men and their “blood intimate” nature (16), Lawrence creates a stark contrast by recycling previous diction in giving it new meaning. Whereas “warmth and blood” initially describe a positive element of the land, the phrase “pulsing heat of creation” sheds a more negative light on this lifestyle (6,24).  Through the eyes of the woman, the men aren’t really as free and powerful as they feel, they’re caged and weak, like their animals, looking only inwards, instead of beyond, which Lawrence describes as the woman’s “deepest desire” (36).  By contrasting these two views, the woman’s inner wants and dilemmas are realized.

            This use of contrasting diction, along with the passage’s later metaphor begins to uncover a less obvious opinion held by the woman, one she may not even realize she obtains.  As she is contemplating the power the vicar holds over her husband, the comparison that exists between man and beast arises.  “What is it about the vicar,” she questions, “that raised him above the common man as man is raised above the beast?” (54) It’s Lawrence’s metaphor and rhetorical question that prompts us to follow the woman’s logic.  The woman has realized that the life of the Brangwen men limits them from looking outwards and attaining the wisdom of the world.  It is working with the beasts that makes them the beasts.

            By the conclusion of four short paragraphs, Lawrence has managed to take the woman through a complete journey, beginning with a dilemma and ending with resolution.  Contrasting diction, tone shifts, and metaphoric language allows the ambiguous character of the woman to come to life and raise the question between strength and wisdom, man and beast, and what really constitutes the role of the master.

Part II:  My initial essay score for The Rainbow prompt was a 7.  I believe that my essay clearly offers a “reasonable analysis” of the prompt and does it with “clarity and control.”  Trying to remember what I failed to grasp first trimester, I focused more on the complexity than the actual prompt, and feel like I improved in that specific area, yet for this reason, may have lacked examples of literary devices. I do however, feel like I did a better job at “referring to the text for support” instead of just slapping a bunch of quotes down on the paper.  I consciously focused on elaborately on the quotes and using them as less of a crutch.

            After learning about D.H Lawrence’s concept of “blood knowledge”, I feel like I have gained a more concrete understanding of the complexity that exists within the text.  Instead of honing in on the “man vs. beast” aspect of the passage, I wish that I had addressed the irony involving Lawrence’s own belief system.  I would have discussed the industrial revolution as well as the anger the author held towards the value placed on wisdom in Anglo-Saxon society.  Now I realize that I could have used literary devices, such as Lawrence’s repetition of “blood” and “knowledge” to support this assertion.

            Another element of my prose passage essay that I see needs improvement is the ability to “make a strong case” for my interpretation.  The fact that I could have mentioned personification and anaphora seemed to completely escape me when I was initially reading and annotating the text.  I should have discussed the personifying elements in the first paragraph such as the earth opening up to the men as a way to further my case for a tone shift and contrast in diction.  I addressed these topics, but didn’t go far enough in supporting them with concrete evidence to receive an 8 or a 9. 

            Of course, after these literary devices and complexities are pointed out to me, I see what I could have done to include them in my writing the first time.  However, my essay didn’t just lack these pieces of information, it also lacked in style.  After reading some sample essays on the same prompt, I’m trying to lock in my brain the keys for stylistic success in a prose passage essay.  Next time, I’m going to focus on completing a solid argument, outlining it, and then crafting my argument in a more convincing manner. I can tell that the most convincing essays (those who deserve 9s), don’t only address the prompt and the complexity, they use high-level diction in such a way that their argument isn’t camouflaged, it’s strengthened and sounds more intelligent.