Sartrean Existentialist Tendencies In D. H.Lawrence’s Novels

D.H.Lawrence has been labeled almost every-ist, from a Feminist to a Fascist. Such labels arise out of the subtle vagueness in his writings.To some degree, his insights into man’s existence bear similarity to existentialism, one of the leading philosophical trends in the twentieth century. The present author examines some of Lawrence’s ontological ideas (the quest for authentic selfhood, freedom and choice, and relationship with others) embodied in some of his major works, Sons and Lovers, The Rainbow and Women in Love, comparing them with Sartrean existentialist thoughts. The arguments revolve around themes, characterization, and development of the plots of the three novels respectively.The present author argues that Lawrence demonstrates with his poetic description an existentialist rejection of all social systems and an ardent desire for a healthier existence and utter freedom of man. To a certain degree, his philosophy coincidentally harbingers and echoes Sartrean existentialist concepts.