A Search For An Ideal Male-Female Relationship

D.HLLawrence is one of die most unique and controversial writers of die twentiedi century in English and world literature. During his short lifetime and even afterwards, Lawrence was defamed and severely criticized by die public because of his frank treatment of sex and his oiflspoken insistence upon die need for a readjustment in die relationship between die sexesAs die Lawrentian critic ERLeavis pointed out, it is Ihe Rainbow and Women in lave drat most demand attention; together diey constitute Lawrence's greatest works. They represent die supreme technical innovation and creative achievement of Lawrence. In die two novels, with a writer's sharp eyes and intuitive knowledge, Lawrence explored how to establish a harmonious and perfect relationship between die sexes in die modem industrial society by readjusting people's relationship.This diesis intends to illustrate Lawrence's exploration between die sexes in UK Rainbow' and Women in /yrviesoastounderstarritfiemamtherneoftJretwMxwelsa^Lawrence tried to explore an ideal relationship between die sexes tiirough die Brangwens' diree generations of marriage in Jhe Rainbow.Tom and Lydia, die first generation of die Brangwens, live in die middle and late nineteenth century on die Marsh Farm, which has not been affected by modem industry. Even though diere are conflicts and misunderstanding between diem, Tom and Lydia: soon find die doorway to each odier, but they just remain outside and don't go into die gate to explore This means dial die harmony they reach is just on die surface level. Satisfied widi diis superficial pastoral harmony, Tom and Lydia leave die task of new life's exploration to die second generation, Anna and Will. In Lawrence's eyes, die first generation's marriage is successful in a certain degree.Botii Anna and Will are strong-willed, and bom claim die power to dornmate die odier Over die course of dieir contest for dominance, diey become exhausted. At last, diey yield to each odier and get consummation from mere sex Anna seeks refuge in birth-giving, while Will changes his interest to carving and his eldest daughter Ursula While consummated, and widi balance attained by sexual fulfillment, die couple loses their selves. The ideal marriage in Lawrence's terms is die combination of body and soul, but Anna and Will live in die shadow of carnal desire From die point of sexual edncs, die sexual freedom drat man gained from nature may lead man's sex to extremes - cite as degrading as that of anirnal or as overly tofty as diat of gods. Ann and Will go to die extreme of animal-like sex. So die second generation's marriageis a failureThe positive significance of 7/?Rambaw lies in the description of the third generation: Ursula's exploration of serf-fulfillment. On her voyage of exploration, Ursula treads die wrongful path of lesbianism. She goes to teach in a school, but the old education system disorients and nearly defeats her. Her love with Anton Skrebensky likewise tails because of then diven^ence erf views. SepaiBted from Skrebensky,lfeulaB at a toss. She nearly gives up her pursuit and follows the path of her modier, which would see her go to India to be "Mrs Skrebensky" and bear Skrebensky's children. But after her miscarriage Ursula sees the rainbow in the sky. She has broken away from Skrebensky and freed herself from the past She will begin a new life like a seedling bursting from the earthLawrence snowed how modem capitalistic mechanics are detrimental to human nature and die Lawrertiankleal of male-female relationship, as it is desc^^WfcmOT OT Z/ne is tf B phifosophK^ rdtecti^ In dns "apocalyptic of love", die twocouples' loves have both personal and social significance. Gerald is die representative of modem industrial civilization, characteristic of mechanic will, ami he is body-and-soul alienated. As Gerald is nihilistic, so Gudrun is die representative of modem people pursuing death unconsciously. What she seeks is a fantasy brush with death. Gudrun has die controlling will to make man...