A Study Of Lawrence’s Ecological Thoughts Embodied In The White Peacock

D. H. Lawrence is one of the greatest writers in the early20thcentury, and hisworks are characterized by their infinite charm for their profound and specialconnotation, attracting numerous readers to read from various angles. In Lawrence’sview, the damage of the capitalist industrial civilization on human nature is far moreserious than that on nature. Therefore, in The White Peacock, he vividly describes howhuman nature is subjected to mechanical civilization and how harmonious relationshipbetween man and nature is destroyed by the capitalist industrialization, which presentsthe theme of the conflict between man and nature.Since The White Peacock reveals the author’s focus on the complex relationsbetween man and nature, man and man as well as man and self, this thesis attempts tointerpret The White Peacock from its embodiment of Lawrence’s ecological thoughts,including Natural Ecology, Social Ecology and Spiritual Ecology. Lawrence firmlybelieves that only spare no efforts to coordinate these relationships above, can humanbeings achieve true ecological balance.In chapter one, Lawrence’s ecological thoughts on nature is fully reflected in thedescription of nature in The White Peacock. In his writings, big machine and mine pitsquickly destroy the beauty of the rural scenery. Lawrence has noticed the inseparablerelationship between man and nature; meanwhile he realizes that human civilizations,especially the rapid growth of the industrial civilization, have caused too much harmon nature.Chapter two and chapter three further illustrate Lawrence’s focus on socialecology and spiritual ecology in The White Peacock. The industrial civilization notonly destroys the beautiful nature, but also ruins human nature and distorts the normalrelationships between individuals, resulting in human’s suffering from mental andphysical pain of separation. Besides, in The White Peacock, the industrial civilizationhas brought ecological imbalances causing the distortion and alienation of humannature, and thus only mankinds stay close to nature and become part of nature, can theyrebuild their spiritual home.To sum up, The White Peacock embodies Lawrence’s worries about the humanecological imbalances, indicating his far-sighted ecological philosophy. Lawrencehopes that the novel can arouse man’s good ecological awareness and gradually form aharmonious relationship between man and man, man and nature, as well as man and self, ultimately realizing the ideal of building a harmonious eco-home.