D.H. Lawrence, in his short story "The Horse Dealer's Daughter," uses the elements of character, style, description and symbolism to present the thesis that love is an irrational force which imposes itself on human beings at the most unexpected moments. The characters in the story believe that they are in control of life and life's "situations," but in fact Lawrence shows this control to be illusory. The two main characters, Mabel and Jack, have adopted different ways of trying to control themselves and their lives, but when love intrudes with its irrational power, against their will they lose all semblance of control.
It might be argued that Jack and Mabel have not truly been overwhelmed by the irrational force of love, that they have merely shifted strategies in order to feel that they are in control of the "situation." It might be argued that Lawrence---through his characters, descriptions, style and symbolism---has written a story showing how people adapt themselves and their behavior in order to avoid reality. This position would hold that Lawrence has created a world of miserable characters who either numb themselves out (as with Mabel's brothers) or choose to hide in the pretense of love in order to escape the misery of their lives.
However, as this study will argue, Lawrence was an advocate of the irrational power of love, and he has created two characters in Mabel and Jack whose lives are turned upside-down as they lose control and fall in love. We do not know how their relationship will develop, but there is no doubt that Lawrence means their sudden love to be real and significant.
Both Mabel and Jack have adopted means of dealing with the "situations" of life which allow them to believe that they are in control of what is happening to them and around them---until love strikes. Again and again, with reference to Mabel and her family, Lawrence uses descriptions, style and symbolism to define character in terms of the...