RELATIONS OF DOMINANCE AND EQUALITY IN D. H. LAWRENCE

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projection tells him in the daylight what his conscience could
not hear that night.
Siegmund also implied death in his
unconscious speech, now Hampson mentions it clearly.
There is also a sense of latent homosexuality in what
Hampson says which may lead to the strong sense of narcissism
present in Siegmund's personality.
His self-love in the sea
bathing may be a hint of his desire to love somebody of his own
sex.
That is what seems implicit in Hampson's speech:
'...Do you remember Flaubert's saint, who laid
naked against the leper? I could not do it.'
'Nor I,' shuddered Siegmund.
'But you've got to — or something near it!'
Siegmund looked at the other with frightened
horrified eyes (p.83).
This is the only chapter where Lawrence shows so much knowledge
of his hero.
More hints come in the end of the chapter when
Hampson observes his hands: "'I can scarcely believe they are
me, I should not be surprised,' he said. 'If they rose up and
refused me. But aren't they beautiful?'" (p.85). Siegmund
thinks that he has got a beautiful and fresh body but he has not
the courage to ask anybody whether they are beautiful or not.
The hands here may symbolize the whole body.
And again I think
it implies a latent homosexuality.
What Hampson says about women fits Helena perfectly. In
fact, Hampson's statements repeat Lawrence's early idea that
women are castrating creatures.
Hampson implies that Siegmund
must get rid of Helena.
Observe the following:
'The best sort of women — the most interesting
— are worst for us,' Hampson resumed. 'By instinct
they aim at supressing the gross and animal in us.
We, who are as little gross as need be, become
their instruments. Life is grounded in them, like
electricity in the earth; and we take from them
their unrealized life, turn it into light or
warmth or power for them...' (p.84)
and the passage already quoted: