Olivier Mellors, romantic hero

[muck_a_luck]

I don't know what Mr. Lawrence or his peers thought about Mellors, but as a modern woman who consumes Hollywood media, I declare him the ultimate romantic hero.

Well, not sure if that's exactly what I'm trying to say, but anyway, let me describe him and you be the judge.

1. Smart thoughtful kid with a smattering of real education, including languages, goes to work as a clerk, on his way to a middle class white collar lifestyle. Rejects it as sucking the lifeblood out of him, and goes into his father's profession as a blacksmith instead.

Isn't this what we all want. Hunky guy with a brain? And nobody sits around thinking of her accountant, even her really fit accountant. Fireman. Soldier. *snert* Blacksmith.

2. Goes off to join the army when home life gets too much for him, and gets raised from the ranks. Alas, his service ends when he nearly dies of pneumonia and he comes back home.

Romantically rises above his station. Is singled out and recognized for his abilities. But then is stricken by terrible illness that makes him weak and vulnerable. So we get to baby him and take care of him and worry about him later/

3. Rejects the modern world and goes to hide in the woods, where he keeps a tidy house, is good to the animals, loved by his dog, cooks for himself, and is generally the Noble Savage hiding in the rustic English countryside.

A man who can take care of himself, do a little light house work, cook for us, and take care of us in the wilderness...

4. Is insatiable sex macine. He regularly gets it up three times in a session. And he is worried about her orgasm, and actually claims not to really enjoy the cunt unless orgasm is simultaneous. In fact, when he's had really good sex, is so grateful to the woman that he brings her breakfast in bed and spoils her rotten.

I don't think this needs any further elaboration!

5. Is quiet and a pretty good listener.

Again, 'nuff said.

Of course, Mellors has his problems, partially do to the fact that he is an anachronism to us. He talks about how women who are not white have a good sex drive, but can't really be enough for a white man because they are "a bit like mud." He talks about how when he and his wife started to fight, one of the things he would do was nearly choke the life out of her. (To be fair, in the context of the story, Connie bats not an eye at this confession. Clearly this was socially acceptable. Ick.) And he's a pretty depressed guy. But Connie's pretty depressed, too, so can hardly hold that against him.

I dunno. His issues aside, I feel like Mellors is the fantasy guy we are probably all looking for... Thoughts?

Comments

[lucky-sometimes.livejournal.com]

He's clearly not a big enough asshole for me, choking or no choking.

Also, wife? (Havent read/watched).

Wife

[muck-a-luck.livejournal.com]

He is married to a woman with whom he did not get along - hence the choking. He joined the army to get away from her and she took up with another man. At the time of the story, they had been separated for years - maybe 10?

*is shocked*

[muck-a-luck.livejournal.com]

Also. You really *must* watch. Really. There's gotta be a good rental place near you that has it.