Individuality And Harmony: Women's Holy Grail

D. H. Lawrence was one of the most outstanding as well as the most controversial men of letters in the twentieth century. Among the scare studies on his attitude to women, there exist controversies: some are for Lawrence while others are totally against. However fierce the debates are going on, the paper will propose that it is not fair to label Lawrence as male chauvinist or anti-feminist. It will explore the female figures in Lawrence?ˉs three novels: Sons and Lovers, Women in Love and Lady Chatterley?ˉs Lover, regardless of time sequence or book constraint but only for women?ˉs sake, and insist that he has worked from women?ˉs perspectives and portrayed three groups of women figures, who are the epitomes of the feminists in different stages: some are always sticking to their dreams and to certain extent have over-emphasized their femininity; some take individuality and harmony as their Holy Grail. Beyond the above two, some have finally realized the real self, both spiritually and physically. Meanwhile, it is not out of coincidence or impulse that Lawrence has portrayed such three groups of female figures. It is first of all a reflection of the feminist movement, and it also speaks out the historical trend. To conclude, Lawrence does contribute a lot to women?ˉs emancipation even nowadays, though his ideas are somewhat imaginative.