“Second Best” Structuralist approach

In the Second Best, Lawrence tells a story of two sisters who meet after being apart
for a long time. The older, Frances, a girl of twenty-three and the beauty of the family
comes from Liverpool back to the parents' house and spends a day with her younger
sister, Anne. The two sisters talk of Jimmy Barras, a Doctor of Chemistry, whom
Frances has been "sweet on."

It turns out Jimmy got engaged to a different girl, so Frances has to move on. When
they walk the fields, Anne finds a mole and later kills it for no good reason. Frances
is astonished by her sister’s action, but soon her grief is substituted by sudden
indifference. "Something dies insider of her," and she finds herself caring very little
for everything.

As the two girls approach the gate they meet Tom Smedley, a young man, ‘who was
ready to love Frances, as soon as she would show him. Now, that Jimmy is already
taken, Frances decides to settle for Tom, as he is the second best.

Analysis

“Second Best” is a story written by and published in 1914. This story is about two
sisters Frances and Anne, who are twenty-three and fourteen years old. They live
together and share with each other their feelings and emotions. Frances tells Anne
her previous unhappy love story, and Anne tells her feelings belonging to one boy.
These dialogues are short, but they are full of hidden sense.

The whole story itself has many elements which call attention to deeper meanings. It
occupies such topics as love, choice, life in general, sisters’ relations. It reveals how
love affects human’s soul and how we by ourselves can make our life better.
“Second Best” is the title of the story because Frances in the end chooses the
second-best variant of man Tom. It is interesting, that during the whole story until the
end we can’t figure out why is it called so.

While reading “Second Best” we notice wide and wonderful description of nature and
surroundings of characters. We can fully imagine where they are now and what they
see. Also author is a master in depicting people’s emotions. In dialogues a reader
can pretend like he is watching a film, because all moves of the body, all changes on
the face are described perfectly.

There is the third-person narration in the story; however, it doesn’t prohibit the author
to express a huge specter of emotions and feelings of the personages. The author
skillfully tells about every person and gives a very detailed description of their minds.
But there is not any separation into bad and good characters, everyone in the book
has his own advantages and disadvantages, so reader can make a unique image of
every personage and decide who is likable and who is repulsive. It may seem that
“Second Best” is just another story about love, but the literary manner of the author
makes it more unusual, original and worth reading.

Structuralist Concepts in the Analysis

1. Meaning as a System of Differences

In structuralism, meaning is generated through systems of differences rather than

through the inherent qualities of individual elements. Frances's affection for Tom and
Arthur derives its meaning not simply from her emotions, but from the binary
opposition between them. Arthur, who is absent and idealized, represents an
unattainable dream, while Tom is present and offers concrete affection but lacks the
same emotional intensity. The tension between presence and absence, idealism and
reality, creates the underlying structure that defines Frances’s emotional journey.

For instance, Frances does not assess Tom and Arthur in isolation but through a
system of oppositions: Arthur is the dream, the "first best" she longs for, while Tom is
the reality, the "second best" she may settle for. This reflects how meaning is derived
not from isolated entities but from the relationships between them.

2. Cultural Signs and Symbolism

Structuralism posits that cultural items (words, objects, or actions) derive meaning
from their place in a larger structure. In "Second Best," Frances’s affection can be
seen as part of a broader cultural system where love, especially idealized love, is a
symbol of emotional fulfillment. Arthur’s absence gives him an aura of unattainable
perfection. His role as an absent figure allows Frances to construct an idealized
image, while Tom’s presence and tangible affection are regarded as ordinary and
less desirable.

Additionally, Tom’s kiss can be interpreted as a symbolic gesture, a marker of

potential resignation to the "second best" option. In structuralist terms, the kiss does
not have inherent meaning but is shaped by its role in Frances’s larger emotional
framework—she uses it to explore the possibility of settling, even though her feelings
for Arthur linger.

3. Binary Oppositions and Social Constructs

One of the core tenets of structuralism is that understanding arises from binary
oppositions: light/dark, good/evil, ideal/reality. In "Second Best," several such
oppositions frame the narrative:

● Idealism vs. Reality: Frances’s idealized love for Arthur, whom she cannot
have, versus the practical and real affection she receives from Tom.
● Presence vs. Absence: Tom is physically present in Frances’s life, offering
her a tangible relationship, while Arthur is absent and thus more desirable in
her mind.
● First vs. Second: Arthur represents the unattainable "first" love, while Tom is
literally cast as the "second best." This opposition creates the narrative’s
tension, driving Frances’s internal conflict about whether she can be content
with less than what she dreams of.

Structuralism identifies these oppositions as key to understanding how the story

organizes meaning. Frances’s struggle is framed by the tension between these
opposing concepts, and her ultimate decision is not just about choosing between two
men, but about navigating these underlying structures in her emotional life.

4. The Role of Language and Social Codes

In structuralism, language is the fundamental system through which meaning is

constructed. In "Second Best," the terms "best" and "second best" are socially
loaded with value judgments. Frances internalizes a social code that defines Arthur
as her "best" love, the one who represents passion, and Tom as "second best," the
one who symbolizes a safer, less thrilling option. This language reflects broader
social codes about love, where passion and desire are culturally valued over stability
and security.

Moreover, the way Frances interprets her emotions is shaped by societal

expectations of romantic fulfillment. Structuralism would argue that Frances’s
decision-making process is not purely personal but deeply embedded in a cultural
structure that equates absence and longing with idealized love.

5. Denial of Privilege to Traditional Categories

Structuralism seeks to move beyond traditional literary categories like plot, setting,
and character, focusing instead on the systems and structures that give a story
meaning. "Second Best" is less about the plot of Frances walking with Tom and
more about the underlying structure of relationships—idealized versus realistic love,
absence versus presence, and the emotional negotiations that occur within these
structures.

By analyzing the story through this structuralist lens, we deny the primacy of
individual characters or events. Instead, we see Frances’s internal struggle as part of
a broader, systematic approach to how society defines and structures love. Her
feelings for Arthur and Tom are not merely personal but shaped by a cultural system
of meaning that constructs ideals of romantic love and compels her to navigate these
ideals

Role of nature in story

Nature in "Second Best" functions as a mirror to the characters' emotional

states. Lawrence’s vivid descriptions of the English countryside reflect the
tension, uncertainty, and ambiguity of Frances’s feelings. Throughout the
narrative, nature is not passive but is almost personified, echoing the
characters’ desires, fears, and emotional transitions.

Lawrence’s descriptions of nature often carry symbolic weight, paralleling

the emotional state of Frances as she contemplates settling for Tom. For
instance, if the landscape is calm, it may reflect moments of potential
resignation or acceptance on Frances’s part. However, any subtle
disturbances in the natural setting—such as wind or shadow—can reflect
her ongoing internal conflict. The balance between the beauty of the natural
world and Frances's emotional dissatisfaction mirrors her struggle to
reconcile the love she feels for Arthur with the love that Tom offers her.

Just as the natural setting is beautiful yet ambiguous, so too is Frances's

emotional world. Lawrence's use of nature emphasizes the unresolved
tension in the story. Frances’s kiss with Tom, though seemingly a gesture
of acceptance, does not offer full emotional closure. The natural world
reflects this ambiguity: while it is beautiful and serene, it is also untamed,
vast, and indifferent to human desires, much like Frances’s unresolved
feelings.

Second best: who?

The title refers to Tom, the man who loves Frances but is not her ideal
choice. Frances’s heart belongs to Arthur, an absent lover whom she
idealizes and regards as her "first best." However, Arthur is not present in
her life, leaving Frances to consider the possibility of settling for Tom, who
is affectionate and available but lacks the emotional intensity and romantic
allure she associates with Arthur.

Tom represents stability, reality, and the tangible love that Frances can
have, while Arthur embodies a more passionate and unattainable ideal.
Frances ultimately grapples with whether she can be content with Tom,
whom she perceives as "second best,"

Anne is mentioned as having chosen a life of relative emotional

contentment with a man who does not seem to fulfill her entirely. In contrast
to Frances's ongoing emotional turmoil about Tom and Arthur, Anne seems
to have accepted a more practical and stable, though less passionate, love.
This hints that Anne has already settled for her "second best" in life,
choosing a relationship that is secure and grounded, rather than holding
out for an idealized, unattainable love like Frances does with Arthur.

Think also about the way the title works with these opening
paragraphs. Who or what is ‘second best’? We learn in the
course of the story that it refers – at least principally, though
not necessarily exclusively – to the two men whom Frances
considers courting. She settles for Tom Smedley as ‘second
best’ over her first choice, Jimmy Barrass.
But at this stage, all we have are the two sisters and the
knowledge that one is the brains and beauty of the family, so
we could be forgiven for interpreting the title as a reference to
Anne, who is considered ‘second best’ to her older, cleverer,
and more beautiful sister.

Who is Jimmy?

Jimmy is mentioned briefly as a character but plays a minor role. He is one

of the men from Frances's past, someone she once had affection for.
Jimmy represents another layer of the emotional complexity that Frances
deals with, as she navigates her feelings for the men in her life.

Jimmy serves as a figure who likely didn't live up to Frances's expectations,

much like how she struggles with the idea of settling for Tom, who she sees
as "second best" compared to Arthur. In this sense, Jimmy could be seen
as a past romantic interest who, like Tom, didn’t fulfill her idealized notions
of love. He is mentioned in passing as part of Frances's past, and his
significance lies more in what he represents—a past emotional experience
that further highlights Frances's ongoing dissatisfaction and her longing for
something more than what she has been offered by these men.

The mole

the mole plays a symbolic role in reflecting Frances’s inner emotional state
and the broader theme of the story. The mole appears during a key
moment in the narrative when Frances and Tom are walking together in the
countryside. This scene, featuring the mole’s sudden appearance and
subsequent actions, carries a deeper meaning tied to Frances’s internal
conflict, her fears, and the themes of compromise and settling.

1. Subterranean Life and Hidden Emotions: Moles are creatures that

live underground, rarely surfacing, and this aspect of their nature
symbolizes the buried emotions and subconscious desires that
Frances is dealing with. Much like the mole, Frances’s true feelings
about love, Arthur, and Tom are hidden beneath the surface. On the
outside, she seems to be considering a relationship with Tom, but
deep down, her love for Arthur remains buried, just as the mole hides
beneath the earth.
 The mole surfacing from its underground life could represent
Frances’s suppressed emotions beginning to surface. As she walks
with Tom, who symbolizes stability and reality, her buried feelings for
Arthur, her idealized love, remain a constant tension within her, much
like the mole that briefly comes into view before retreating
underground again.

2. Blindness and Uncertainty: Moles are often associated with

blindness or poor vision, which mirrors Frances’s emotional
uncertainty and inability to see her situation clearly. She is blind to
the emotional fulfillment Tom might offer, unable to fully appreciate
his love because she is fixated on the idealized, absent Arthur. The
mole’s blindness reflects Frances’s emotional confusion—her inability
to decide whether she should follow her feelings for Arthur or accept
Tom as her "second best."
This blindness can also symbolize Frances’s struggle to see a clear
path forward. She is emotionally torn, unable to fully grasp or
understand her own desires, much like the mole who navigates
underground with limited sight.

3. The Mole as a Sign of Resignation: When the mole appears in the

text, Frances’s reaction is significant. She is drawn to it, curious and
interested, yet at the same time, there’s an element of resignation.
The mole may symbolize the "second best" option that Frances is
considering. The mole is small, somewhat unimpressive, and lives a
modest life beneath the surface—this could parallel Tom, who is not
the grand romantic figure that Arthur represents but offers Frances a
simpler, more grounded kind of love.
Just as the mole accepts its subterranean existence, Frances may be
contemplating whether she should accept Tom as her partner, even
though he is not her first choice. The mole becomes a symbol of
settling for less than what she truly desires, much like the title of the
story suggests.

4. The Struggle and Escape of the Mole: In the story, Tom catches
the mole and holds it in his hands. This act could symbolize Tom’s
attempt to offer Frances something real and tangible. However, the
mole escapes Tom’s grasp, much like how Frances’s feelings for
Arthur escape any real resolution. The fleeting appearance of the
mole, followed by its disappearance, can be seen as a metaphor for
 the elusive nature of Frances’s desires. She is unable to hold onto
the ideal love she dreams of, just as Tom cannot keep hold of the
mole.
The mole’s escape can also reflect Frances’s own desire to escape
her emotional dilemma. She is caught between two conflicting
emotions—her longing for Arthur and her potential acceptance of
Tom. The mole, by slipping away, symbolizes her inability to fully
commit to either option.

fairytail? no

go beyond the text - meaning of the story