The Blind Man by D.H.Lawrence is a short story from the author’s book England, My England and Other Stories. I enjoyed reading The Rocking-Horse Winner, so I picked another short story by the author. This story focuses on the Pervins. Maurice Pervin returned from World War I with injuries that blinded him. Now, he and his wife, Isabel, live in the countryside on a farm. They have a content, but an isolated life.
Maurice and Isabel are living on a farm, mostly comfortable in the bubble they created for themselves. Isabel’s old friend Bertie reaches out to her, and they invite him to come over. Bertie and Maurice did not get along, which is why Isabel has maintained distance from him. When Bertie reaches out again to ask about Maurice, surprisingly, Maurice is the one who insists that Isabel invite Bertie to the farm. Isabel hopes that being around Bertie will help Maurice and her feel more connected to the outside world.
The trauma of the war, injury, and aftermath for Maurice leads him to isolate himself physically, but more emotionally. He and Isabel develop a deeper intimacy because they are together, yet he maintains a certain distance. Isabel is isolated, too, because of her loyalty and her role. With Bertie’s arrival, there is an expectation of a connection to the external world. The main theme of the story seems to revolve around finding this connection and contact. Another prominent theme of the story is the post-war trauma that many men suffered from during that period. The physical scars of Maurice’s injuries symbolize deeper issues than physical, like identity crisis, shame, psychological trauma, and his struggle to be able to relate with others. Maurice finds it difficult to rebuild the connections on a deeper level, some days sinking into a depression.
The story builds up in its emotional intensity as it progresses. The rising emotional stakes do not increase the drama of the story; it’s done in a subtle yet powerful way. The final scene between Maurice and Bertie is something that completely surprised me. The build-up of emotions leading to and during the scene effectively conveys longing for connection and fear. The setting of the world is described extremely well through smells, sounds, and even darkness. It creates an atmosphere fitting for the story. There is an ambiguity when it comes to relationships between characters by the end, especially between Maurice and Bertie. It makes sense because it raises questions about how and if relationships of any kind can move past psychological and physical scars.
I enjoyed reading The Blind Man by D.H.Lawrence. The focus remains on the characters throughout, which maximizes its impact. It deals with difficult topics like physical disability, post-war trauma, and emotional isolation. The story was much more intense than I had predicted, and I was surprised in the best way possible. I really loved it.
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Books and blues 