On Sexual Ethics In Lady Chatterley's Lover

D. H. Lawrence has been regarded as one of the greatest figures in the 20th century English literature. During the twenty years of his writing career Lawrence turned his hand to nearly all available literary forms that include novels, short stories, poetry, essays, reviews, plays and travel books. His last novel Lady Chatterley's Lover is the embodiment of his most mature thoughts in his late life. However, Lawrence had to print the novel at his own expense in 1928, for the description of explicit sexuality was in contradiction with the climate of censorship in the Victorian period. Once it was published, the novel received adverse criticism from the literary critics. Indeed, the British government did not abolish the ban on the novel until the famous"Lady Chatterley"trial in 1960. From the perspective of sexual morality this thesis will examine what Lawrence intended to express in the novel. The first chapter begins with the discussion of the Victorian morality and then expounds the contents of Lawrence's sexual morality through the analysis of the major factors influencing the formation of Lawrence's sexual morality. The Victorians attached great importance to conservativeness. Especially in respect of sexual morality, sexual restraints arose remarkably. Whereas Lawrence saw sex as the instinct and impetus of life. He advocated the harmony of"spirit"and"flesh"in the relationship between the sexes. Lawrence reproached those who desired spiritual communion yet despised physical contact in the relationship between man and woman. Thus Lawrence's individual sexual morality was in conflict with the social sexual morality in the Victorian era. The second chapter discusses the split of"spirit"and"flesh"in the relationship between the sexes in Lady Chatterley's Lover. The split of"spirit"and"flesh"is reflected by those who desired spiritual communion yet despising physical contact or those who desired physical contact but neglecting the importance of spiritual sublimation in the sexual relationship. The former is reflected by the characters of Mellors'previous lovers and Clifford Chatterley while the latter is reflected by Michaelis and Mellors'wife. Lawrence advocated neither of the two types in the novel. The third chapter discusses the harmony of"spirit"and"flesh"in the relationship between the sexes in the novel. The harmony of"spirit"and"flesh"in the relationship between the sexes is the core thing of Lawrence's sexual morality. The sexual relationship consisting of the harmony of"spirit"and"flesh"is what Lawrence advocated the ideal relationship between the sexes. It could even make man and woman have anew the faith in a new life when they are situated in the adverse circumstance. Through the harmony of"spirit"and"flesh"in their sexual relationship Connie and Mellors live again in the expectation of a new life though they are miles apart for the moment. The thesis comes to the conclusion that Lawrence's sexual morality is undoubtedly positive against the background of the Victorian morality. Even today the harmony of"spirit"and"flesh"in the sexual relationship may enlighten us as to the current attitude towards the sex. Hence Lawrence's individual sexual morality is by no means to encourage immoral sexuality that includes promiscuity or adultery. Instead, it is morally instructive. As Lawrence himself insists, the essential function of art is moral, not aesthetic, not decorative, not pastime and recreation, but moral.