D.H. Lawrence's use of Language in Odour of Chrysanthemums

Write a study of the opening of D.H. Lawrence’s short story Odour of

Chrysanthemums. Comment in detail on the way in which Lawrence’s use

of language creates a particular atmosphere and raises certain

expectations.

The opening of ‘Odour of Chrysanthemums’ tells us about the domination

of industry over nature. It presents nature at its worst and the

dominance of technology, symbolized by the engine. The focus of the

story is on the engine, the people, nature and its description and the

mood of the story is gloomy, despondent. The struggle of the people

parallels that of nature, which highlights the story. The themes

revolving around the story are tension, struggles, dominance,

disappointment and loss.

At first glance, the title captures the attention of the reader with a

sense of irony. D.H. Lawrence used the title ‘Odour of

Chrysanthemums’ to set the tone of the story and provides a sense of

forewarning. The word ‘odour’ suggests a strong, bad smell but

chrysanthemums are not scented. Only when chrysanthemums are dead do

they give off a smell which is strong and pungent. This implies to

the reader that something terrible will arise soon after. And the

story starts with the locomotive ‘clanking, stumbling’, and moving

clumsily and noisily. It sets the basis of the story (industry,

machinery) which is antithesis with the title. This engine is shown as

something negative and imposing since it is destroying the

tranquillity of nature and taking over it. However, nature is

stronger and this is symbolized by the colt which ‘outdistanced it at

a canter’. The noisy engine which represents the industrial figure

and man-made is slower than the running colt which is created by

nature. The story also ends with ...

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...ance of the house gives the feeling that it is not somewhere

you would want to live in. “Winter-cracked trees, ragged cabbages,

dishevelled pink chrysanthemums”; even nature surrounding the house is

ugly. They are struggling to grow against the polluted atmosphere but

are fighting a losing battle. Also the environment in other parts

such as the fields which were “dreary and forsaken” and the “tarred

fowl house” tells us that nature is not at its best at the moment.

“Flames like red sores licking its ashy sides” is like an injury which

will take a long time to heel.

The miners which are unnamed “passed like shadows” is a simile to

describe how blackened they were from the coal. Anything to do with

mining seems to carry negative connotations. The miners being unnamed

shows how little of significance they are compared to the battle of

industry and nature.