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A Study On The Theme Of The Man-and-Nature Relationship In Lawrence's Fiction

Posted on:2003-07-29Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:Y R TuFull Text:PDF
GTID:2155360062986269Subject:English Language and Literature
Abstract/Summary:PDF Full Text Request
D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930) is one of the greatest English novelists of the 20th century. He is well known as the writer who brought explicit sexuality into the English novel. People pay little attention to his magnificent description of the natural world and his contribution to literature's idea of what nature is and what the relationship between man and nature should be. In fact, all his writings testify to a deep love and unique understanding of the natural world. This thesis mainly focuses on the interpretation of Lawrence's ideas on man-and-nature relationship and their reflection in his fiction.To discover reasons for the formation of D. H. Lawrence's ideas about the relationship between man and nature, this thesis has examined both the Lawrence's life experience and some social influences over him, including historical cultural background and literary heritage.Because of the influences, D. H. Lawrence has formed the ideas about the relationship between man and nature. Firstly, man is the product of nature. In Lawrence's opinion, man is the child of nature and can not be isolated from nature. Secondly, nature can waken man's instinct. Nature is the most mysterious, most spacious, most energetic, and most splendid world. Man can derive energy, power and a dark sort of joy and thus waken the instinct by getting his life into contact with the elemental life of the cosmos, by keeping a harmoniousrelationship with nature. Finally, nature can save modern man. In Lawrence's point of view, the natural unspoiled place is corrupted by the march of civilization and the modern world is in a state of "waste land". Therefore he severely criticizes the industrial civilization, which devitalizes and dehumanizes modern man. And he eagerly calls for the revitalization of human beings. He expects the resurrection of human race and the renewal of the world. To revive the natural instincts of men and women, and to establish an ideal community of human life on earth, Lawrence strongly advocates a return to nature to gain resurrection.To explore Lawrence's ideas about the relationship between man and nature reflected in his fiction, this study offers detailed discussions of the formation of his ideas in his first novel The White PeacocK, the development of his ideas in his middle period novel The Rainbow and the maturity of his ideas in his last novel Lady Chatterley's Lover. In all the three fictions, Lawrence expresses his ideas about the relationship between man and nature.This thesis also reveals their significance in the 21st century. His deep love for nature, his ideas about man-and-nature relationship are quite helpful for us today to understand the relationship between man and nature. Especially with the growing awareness of the ecological crisis and the rise of the green movement, Lawrence's ideas can help us know nature, protect nature and strengthen the environment-protection consciousness.Through the discussion of Lawrence's ideas about man-and-naturerelationship and the reflection of his ideas in his fiction, we know that there is a living connection between man and nature, and that man can get vitality and resurrection only from keeping harmonious relationship with nature. Lawrence, in his writings, attempts to show that man is part of nature like plants and animals. For Lawrence, nature represents a vital, mysterious and regenerative power which can stimulate man's instinct. But unfortunately, the Industrialization Revolution neglects the connection between man and nature. During the Industrialization Revolution, nature was considered as an object for man to control. In the course of controlling nature, the natural world is seriously destroyed. Lawrence notices that the industrialization destroys the relationship between man and nature. With the development of industrialization, the problems become more and more serious. To revive the natural instincts of men and women, and to establish an ideal community of human life on earth, Lawrence strongly advocates a retur...
Keywords/Search Tags:Lawrence, man, nature, relationship, significance
PDF Full Text Request
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