Overwhelming Jealously

            An important concept present in D.H. Lawrence’s novel, Two Bird Birds, is the battle one goes through when the feeling of jealously enters their thoughts. Lawrence displays this concept through Mrs. Gee observing her husband’s interactions with his secretary, Miss Wrexall. By using the story’s perspective, and the symbolism of the two blue birds Lawrence is able to illustrate this concept to the reader.

            Over the course of the story the perspective shift from third person to first person, and then back to third person at the very end. When the story shifts to first person it takes on the perspective of Mrs. Gee. Mrs. Gee has just returned home from a winter trip, and has found that her husband is doing quite well without her. His secretary, cook, and housemaid, who all happened to be related to one another, have managed to get Mr. Gee’s affairs in order. When Mrs. Gee realizes that he is getting along better without her jealously overcomes her. She focuses most of her jealously onto the secretary, “What on earth did she want then? She was his wife. What on earth did she want of him?” (RNF p. 487). Mrs. Gee doesn’t understand why this secretary is doing what she does for her husband at such a low pay. By using first person Lawrence is able to show the reader Mrs. Gee’s thoughts as she contemplates theories of the relationship between her husband and Miss Wrexall. The reader is able to see her thoughts gradually get consumed of this jealously to where it eventually drives her insane.

            Another way Lawrence illustrates this battle with jealously is through the symbolism of the two blue birds that appear in the story. When Lawrence first introduces the blue birds they are at the feet of Mr. Gee and Miss Wrexall, and Mr. Gee is having her write down ideas for the story. The birds are fighting about something at the feet of Mr. Gee. Later in the story both Mrs. Gee and Miss Wrexall appear wearing the same color dress which happens to be blue. These two women symbolize the two birds that were fighting around the feet for Mr. Gee. Towards the end Mrs. Gee states, “But I’m afraid no man can expect two blue birds of happiness to flutter round his feet, tearing out their little feathers.” (RNF p. 493). This quote shows that Mrs. Gee’s jealously has gotten to the point where she believes they are fighting. over her husband. She let the jealously consume and ruin the relationship between her and Mr. Gee.