Lady Chatterley's Lover

Constance “Connie” Chatterley is the protagonist of the novel, and much of the plot is presented from her point of view. Connie is born into a well-off and intellectual Scottish family; as a young girl, she is exposed to travel, art, intellectual conversation, and unconventional political beliefs. Connie is often quite docile, soft-spoken, and agreeable. For much of her marriage to Clifford, she focuses on taking care of him and attending to all of his needs. She has a strong tendency toward nurturing and is interested in having a child.

However, Connie can also be stubborn, idealistic, and sensitive; she falls in love with Mellors during their affair even though they have very different perspectives and experiences. Connie is intellectual and interested in ideas, but also becomes frustrated when she is denied the opportunity to enjoy her body and physical sensations. When she listens to men talking about philosophy, she thinks that she “quite liked the life of the mind, and got a great thrill out of it. But she did think it overdid itself a little” (35). Connie is also quite sensual and thrives when she is connected to her body and the natural world.