An Analysis Of Lawrence's Three Novels From The Perspective Of Gilligan's Theory Of The Ethics Of Care

D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930) is one of the most reputable figures in English literature of the 20th century. Ever since their publications, his novels have been attracting serious attention from scholars and critics all over the world. Voluminous researches on Lawrence and his works have been undertaken, not only because of his complex and conflicting world outlooks and artistic views, but also out of the profound philosophical thoughts embodied in his works. Lawrence explores the moral development of self throughout his life, and almost all his novels fully represent his special care over the moral development of self. This thesis, based on Carol Gilligan's theory of the ethics of care, as well as the extant studies on Lawrence, intends to make an exploration of Lawrence's viewpoints of the moral development of self through the analysis of his three novels: Sons and Lovers in the early period, Women in Love in the middle period and Lady Chatterley's Lover in the last period. It aims to further analyze Lawrence's ideas of the moral development of self reflected by the major characters in his novels, and provide a dynamic approach to the study of Lawrence's viewpoints, which develop as an evolutionary process. Therefore, this research will serve to comprehensively interpret the philosophical significance of Lawrence's outlooks, value and morality.Gilligan's theory of the ethics of care is the core of the feminist moral psychology, which generally manifests her view of the three stages in the process of the moral development of self. Such three stages: self-protection, self-sacrifice and self-balance are properly identical with Lawrence's viewpoints presented by the major characters of his three novels. Generally, the major characters in Sons and Lovers in the early period, Women in Love in the middle period and Lady Chatterley's Lover in the last period, to a large extent, attempt to pursue an improvement of the moral development of self, which is a due reflection of Lawrence's view on such a point with different focus in each period. Specifically, Sons and Lovers represents the discovering stage of Lawrence's views on the moral development of self, in which he believes that the focus of the moral of self in this stage is only oneself-an independent one; Women in Love is regarded as the exploring and transitional stage, in which he abandons his former idea, and turns to believe that overemphasis of caring for oneself is harmful, instead, it is of crucial importance of self-sacrifice during the process of the fulfillment of self, hence the focus shifts from oneself to others; Lady Chatterley's Lover symbolizes the mature stage of Lawrence's views on the moral development of self, in which he finally confirms that the caring for both oneself and others are of equally significance, and the neglect of one side will definitely result in the failure of the fulfillment of self accordingly.The thesis consists of six chapters:Chapter One starts from an introduction of D. H. Lawrence and his three representative works, trying to point out the significance of an interpretation of Lawrence and his works from the perspective of the moral development of self. Besides, it provides a literature review on the major previous achievements related to this study, including both the overseas and the domestic studies on Lawrence and his works, and the significance of this thesis specifically.Chapter Two puts forth the theoretical foundation of the thesis, in which Carol Gilligan's theory of the ethics of care including her moral psychology and her distinction of the three stages of the moral development of self, is expounded in detail, and the significance and implications of her theory in literary studies as well.The main body of the thesis is found in Chapters Three, Four and Five, in which the progression of Lawrence's view of the moral development of self is illustrated with reference of Gilligan's theory to the analysis of his three novels.In Chapter Three, Sons and Lovers is presented as the initial stage of Lawrence's view of the moral development of self through the discussion of the relationships between Paul and his mother, Paul and his two lovers, and between Mr. Morel and Mrs. Morel.Chapter Four makes an exploration into the transitional stage of Lawrence's view of the moral development of self by analyzing the love affair of Gerald and Gudrun and that of Birkin and Ursula in Women in Love. Lawrence's rejection of his former view on the moral development of self such as that in Sons and Lovers is rendered and he claims shifts of one's attention from caring for himself to the care for others.Chapter Five studies the mature stage of Lawrence's view of the moral development of self. Through the narration of Connie's struggle for establishing a harmonious relationship between self and others, Lawrence comes to a conclusion that only when one cares both for himself and others simultaneously can he achieve harmony in the development of his self-identity and gain balance in the process of the moral development of self.As a concluding part, Chapter Six sums up Lawrence's view of the moral development of self, which turns out to be a dynamic and dialectical development and accords with Gilligan's explication of the three stages of the moral devleopment of self.