Nell lives in a rural community where strict gender roles and expectations shape her life. She feels stifled and limited by the "don'ts" that govern her behavior, such as societal norms regarding courtship and female propriety. She longs to break free from these constraints and explore her true self.
As Nell interacts with other characters, including her cousin George and a worldly traveler named Bertie Reid, she begins to question the social norms she has always accepted. She forms unexpected connections and experiences that challenge her beliefs.
Throughout the novella, Lawrence delves into themes of individuality, societal pressures, the conflict between personal desires and social expectations, and the search for authenticity. Nell's journey represents the struggle to overcome self-imposed limitations and find fulfillment in a world that often seeks to restrict human potential.