The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall (Section-wise Summary)
The Well of Loneliness is a novel by Radclyffe Hall that is sent in a time period just before the first world war. It is a story about a girls transition from around the age of seven years to her mid- 30s. The well of loneliness dwells into the mind and actions of Stephen. (who is a lesbian or an invert as they referred to in the early 1900s) The obstacles, suppression, exile from her childhood home clearly paints the picture of what it was to be a lesbian in the early 1900s in England.
A section-wise review of the novel is as follows.
SECTION 1
Section 1 describes the life of Stephen from before she was born to roughly the age of 18. The expectation of a boy by Sir Philip and Anna and the disappointment when it is a girl is widely discussed as it was a huge factor in continuing with the legacy of the Gordon Family. In those time of age, it was necessary for a heir to keep up with the estates hence the need of a boy.
However, Stephen (a girl) is born. She is a different kid as to the so called normal during those days with peculiar references in features to her father which makes her mother have a very limited love to her. In addition to the strikingly features, Stephen is portrayed as a socially awkward person without much notion of the usual attributes in conversation and rules.
Collins who is a house maid is introduced as the first object of passion of Stephen. The feeling of 'falling in love' is wonderfully portrayed as it could be in the eyes of a 7 year old. However, it comes to an end.
Several other passions come into play such as riding and fencing. Both passions that are not explicitly attributed to well brought up ladies.
But Sir Philip tends to understand the choices and mannerisms of his daughter even though they are somewhat outside the general norm. In contrast, Anna struggles with the burdens of motherhood, her seemingly lack of love for her child, the expectations of a mother by the society and the constant guilt that she is not playing the role of a mother as expected.
For a brief period of normality, Stephen develops a strong friendship with a Canadian Martin Hallam. A lot of the society nods in agreement thinking after all they had been wrong and that this is indeed a love affair. However, once the friendship turns to love in the eyes of Martin, Stephen rejects making him leave Morton. Stephen starts to miss the brief acceptance into society and questions who she is as a person while seeking guidance from her father.
Sir Philip plans on sending Stephen to oxford with the aim of exposing to the educational opportunities that would be available if Stephen was a boy. He refrains from saying what he accepts about Stephen to anybody which leads to conflicts with Anna.
The climax of section one is its final chapter where Sir Philip's life is abruptly shortened due to an accident leaving Stephen unknowingly and unassisted in a world with set rules and guidelines. However, a silver lining prevails in the form of Miss. Puddle who is a governor to Stephen who herself is a learned woman and has an understanding about who Stephen is.
SECTION 2
This is a minute romantic story with the in depth feelings of passion and longing which finally ends in betrayal. The romance between Stephen and Angela Crossby sparks with two very different points of entries. For Stephen it's love at first sight as she is mesmerized by the beauty of Angela and she falls for her very much in love. But in retrospect, it is quite different to Angela who with her past seems to be in this normal social situation. Married to an aristocrat she has all the feelings of stability, protection and the social status she very much lacked during her youth. She turns towards Stephen in an act of curiosity and as a way of an anodyne to her idleness.
This section is full of ups and downs, the turmoil, the moments of immense happiness and tragedy. Anna who by far was unimaginably blinded to all the scenarios finally gets to know Stephen's position in Angela's greatest act of betrayal and commands Stephen to leave Morton. Puddle rises to the occasion and gives strength and understanding to shell of a soul Stephen is left with.
SECTION 3
Stephen leaves Morton and all of its tragic past behind to move to London where he is brought to the acquaintance of Jonathan Brockett. Stephen is now in her mid-20s and has published a successful book and is in the process of writing a second. She publishes her second book which is hugely met with criticism. It is Brockett who provides her with constructive criticism and encourages her to move abroad to get a change of scenery.
As a result, Stephen and Puddle moves to Paris where she is acquainted with Valerie Seymour who is a recognized person in the art circles at the time. In addition to that she is a person who has little validation for social norms as well.
Stephen decides to make herself home in Paris.
This section vastly tries to cover how Stephen manages to settle down in a very different environment to what she was brought up. She rises to the challenge but is yet only acquainted with a couple of people when the world war I breaks out and she decides to leave Paris to serve for her country. She has her doubts of her service being what she is but she is recruited by the London Ambulance column. She wants to go into the war front as she feels she can be of much use there, but she is not given an opportunity.
SECTION 4
With an amazing turn of luck Stephen is granted the opportunity to go as near as possible to the war front as a personnel of the Breakspear Unit. It is here she meets Mary Llewellyn. Initially portrayed as a feeble girl she quickly proves that she wasn't at all what the head of the unit makes her out to be. While working together Stephen and Mary gets close and towards the end of the war Mary confesses to Stephen that she had been waiting for her all her life. Stephen finally has found her feelings reciprocated.
With the end of the war, Stephen accompanies Mary to her home in Paris. With the depleting health of Mary Stephen takes Mary to Orotova in Spain. Even though Stephen is so in love for the young girl of 22, she now herself has matured enough to understand the risks of being who they were. Hence, she refrains from making any advancement in their relationship. There would be days that she would force herself to be away from Mary. As a result Mary then thinks that Stephen does not actually love her but all she had was pity. It is then that Stephen forces herself to explain the dire consequences out of the choices they were about. But Mary does not care. She says all that she ever wanted in life she has with Stephen and that she is ready and she does not indeed care for the worlds opinion.
The rest of their days at Spain are spent deeply in love with one another.
SECTION 5
In a particular change of pace this section is started in a happy note. This is the longest section in the book where it totally revolves around the relationship between Mary and Stephen. The two individuals recognizing their love for each other and embark on a journey together. Stephen who is much older than Mary knows the stakes and obstacles the journey will have.
Throughout the section we can see the buildup towards the climax of the story. The interesting point is as with all the previous sections this section as a result this book as a whole ends in a climax. The yearning for societal acceptance can be seen in the words of Radcliffe Hall as the section unfolds. Stephen and Mary accept themselves as outcasts from the society and they tend to establish relationships with people who are more of their own type. Other outcasts. They are not fulfilled with these relationships as they are filled with envy with the traditional lifestyles and constantly question god as to why they have been maimed in this manner.
Subtle incidents throughout the section drives Stephen into thinking that Mary deserves more than all the love she can afford. Everything else, the security, stability and social status that Stephen is unable to give. Stephen in the greatest acts of selflessness sets Mary free.
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