“The White Stocking” follows the classic trope of a love triangle with one small alteration: Lawrence replaces unrequited love with repressed desire. In this story, love is found only between Elsie and Ted, but desire exists on all sides.

Each characters’ desire is fueled by different motivations. Elsie is spurred on by vanity; she admires herself and knows the effect she has on men. When Ted leaves the house, Elsie wears her earrings and flaunts to the men she sees throughout the day; “All the tradesmen [leave] her door with a glow in them.”

Further, Elsie longs for Adams’s attention for the simple reason that he is a man who lusts after her. Elsie loves Ted and is attracted to him, but, for her, male approval is something to be coveted.

It is clear that Adams is a ladies’ man. Though he appears to give Elsie special attention, his desire—mainly sexual—is simply to have another notch on his belt of women he has conquered.

Ted’s genuine love for Elsie makes his desire more complicated. First, there is his obvious sexual attraction made clear by his observations of Elsie’s “pretty legs” and other features. But then, because of his intense love and attraction, it also results in a desire to kill.

Though perverse, Ted’s feelings for Elsie are so strong that he would rather her die than be another one of Adams’s victims—and for Elsie to not be completely in his own possession. Ted’s threats of breaking Elsie’s neck are said in the heat of the moment, at the height of his anger, but his words are a revelation of how he truly feels.

Ted’s anger stems from his desire for Elsie, but it also stems from insecurity in himself and his relationship. Considering Elsie's flirtatious behavior towards Adams, Ted is perhaps rightful in feeling threatened by Adams. Even still, his insecurity is a major factor in all his problems.

At the Christmas party, Ted’s aversion to dancing is likely caused by his fear of embarrassment and his insecurities about what he looks like on the dance floor. Ted’s refusal to dance directly causes Elsie to subsequently spend time with Adams, as she now must look elsewhere for a partner.

Similarly, though Elsie’s openness in receiving Adams’s affection may not be construed as morally correct, Ted did not have enough faith in Elsie’s love for him to remain confident in their relationship. He believes himself to be inadequate in comparison to Adams, so he feels insecure about how seriously Elsie regards their marriage.

Ted’s insecurity further leads to jealousy. During the culminating fight at the end of the story, Ted’s thought reveal his anxiety about Elsie’s desires: “He knew somehow that she would like Sam Adams to see how pretty her legs looked in the white stockings. It made his anger go deep, almost to hatred.”

Though Ted takes his fury and hatred out on Elsie in the form of physical abuse,  it is more probable that, had Adams been in vicinity, Ted would have exploded on him instead. He loves Elsie but is jealous of Adams, feeling threatened by the man and his intrusion into his marriage.

That said, jealousy and insecurity are two separate concepts that work together to perpetuate a cycle of dislike for oneself and others. Ted is insecure with Elsie but jealous of Adams; both of these feelings are repercussions of his intense love.