The Rainbow-An Optimistic Tragic Epic

D.H. Lawrence was one of the most original and controversial writers of the early twentieth century. He often incorporates philosophical ideas into his work. In Lawrence's philosophical development, Nietzsche remains an abiding presence and an influence second to none and his some ideas unavoidably influence Lawrence's thinking about polarity, with which Lawrence is often obsessed in his fiction. This thesis is mainly to comment Lawrence's most basic opposite-male-female relationship with which he is always preoccupied in The Rainbow.For Lawrence, all creation, including life depends on the union of duality and polarity. In this novel, the former two generations of the Brangwens can form the union, thus creating lives and finding satisfaction and self-fulfillment. But the representative of the third generation Ursula finally rejects it with Skrebensky, so she cannot achieve what her ancestors have already owned. In all, the union of male-female relationship between them is from integration to disintegration, resulting in the Brangwens'declined lives and final failures. In addition, it also can be seen that from the beginning, their will to better their lives and relationship is all blind, which is also doomed to their tragic end to some extent.Like Nietzsche, Lawrence also holds an optimistic attitude towards tragic things in life. The Rainbow is just this kind of interpretation. Although the relationship between men and women of the Brangwens deteriorate gradually, Tom and Anna can derive joy and happiness in their respective worlds, and more importantly, the rainbow at the end of the story is an indication of the promise and hope which will be directed into its sequel Women in Love, and finally Ursula finds her new life.