Chapter One

General Introduction
1.1 Introduction
This research discusses the theme of gender role and the female-male
relationships in The White Stocking by D. H. Lawrence. The White Stocking
is a story about relationships and human connections are mutually,
helplessly dependent upon each other and this is how the relationship
progresses between Ted and Elsie. The story reveals how hard it is for a
man and a woman to attain stability and wholeness in a close relationship,
and the destructive and irrational behavior that results when the attempt
fails. In the story, it seems to be the woman who is causing the contrast and
imbalance in the relationship: it is the woman who seems to reflect the
destructive nature of the imbalance.
The relationship between a man and a woman is harmful and
incorrect in The White Stocking. The story describes women as having
deceptive feelings towards their partners. Although she is preparing the ball
with her fiancé, she neglects him to dance with Sam Adams all night, which
is only a harsh punishment for the emotional spirit. Elsie was not only
untrue but also to Ted, because she brought him on a passionate ride. In
the story, it seems that women unite in their relationships, with one man,
while trying to persuade or another court. By playing this kind of game with
Sam, Ted, and herself, everyone is hurt and concerned with Sam’s angry
emotions and feelings.
In this chapter, the researchers will attempt to reveal what role the
female plays within the structure of Lawrence's female-male relationships
by examining The White Stocking. The story deals with an unstable

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relationship between a man and a woman and end with an apparent
resolution between them. For this reason, The White Stocking is an
appropriate story for studying this theme.

1.2 Research Problem

The research studies the problem of the relationship between a man
and a woman in Lawrence's The White Stocking. The research tries to show
that the female-male relationships in the story influenced by several factors
such as integrity, freedom, separate identity and other differences which led
to the failure of the relationships between a man and a woman in the story.
The research highlights the problems of relations in Lawrence's The White
Stocking which are responsible for the spiritual distance that exists
between characters in the story.

1.3 Research Questions

The research tries to answer the following questions:
1. How does Lawrence depict the relationships between man and
woman in The White Stocking?
2. What is role the female plays within the structure of Lawrence's
The White Stocking?
3. What are the elements which are responsible for creating
unstable relationship between a man and a woman in The
White Stocking?

1.4 Research Objectives

This research attempts to deal with the theme of female-male
relationships in Lawrence's The White Stocking. Firstly, the research tries
to examine the theme of relationships and how this theme is expressed at

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various occasions throughout the story. Secondly, the research attempts to
discuss how Lawrence filled relations through statements and actions by
some of his characters. Finally, the researcher describes the unstable
relationships that occur as a result of misunderstandings between the man
and the woman.

1.5 Research Significance

This research aims to enrich the library of Aflaj with this kind of study
about The White Stocking. The research attempts to show that several
factors such as integrity, freedom, separate identity and other factors create
obstacles in the course of life and upset the whole atmosphere and not to
allow man and woman to develop the relationship. This research reveals the
weaknesses in the relationships between some of the characters in the
story. That’s why the researchers have chosen this topic in order to analyze
it from different angles.

1.6 Research Methodology

The researcher uses the critical analysis approach method in this
study. The study uses primary sources that include the text and data,
secondary sources that include and data collection through access to all
references and scientific research, periodicals and web sites to prepare the
research project.

1.7 Summary
In this chapter, the researchers present the research problem;
questions, objectives, significance, and the methodology used to collect the
data of this research.