An Eco-Ethic Analysis Of D.H. Lawrence’s Novels

D.H. Lawrence, a modernist writer in England, is one of the most outstanding representatives in western literature of the20th century. Being a prolific writer, he has created in his short life approximately50volumes of literary works such as novels, short stories, essays, plays, poems, personal correspondence and travel journals, which has ranged over various literary types and left precious spiritual legacy for the literary realm. The background of most of his novels is set in the mining areas of Nottinghamshire located in central England because his life experiences have greatly influenced his creations.Among Lawrence’s novels, three ones influence the world a lot. They are Sons and Lovers, The Rainbow and Lady Chatterley’s Lover respectively. Sons and Lovers is his first novel and won Lawrence reputation as a famous novelist. The Rainbow is his longest novel and wins him the highest achievement in novels. Lady Chatterley’s Lover is his last novel and is also the most controversial one. The three novels are very attractive and thought-provoking with the delicate descriptions of the natural environment and the characters’ minds. Set in the era of industrial civilization, there are not only the descriptions of the beautiful natural scenery and the deterioration of the natural environment, but also the revelations of the values and morality of human beings and the change of human relationships. The three novels not only reflect Lawrence’s unique creativity with his profound attainments, but also fully embody Lawrence’s forward-looking eco-ethic thoughts.This thesis uses Lawrence’s three novels as examples and takes eco-ethics as the theoretical basis to analyze Lawrence’s eco-ethic thoughts. In fact, how to save the deteriorating natural environment, how to keep a co-existing relationship with nature and how to save the alienated humanity in the alienated society are the questions that Lawrence has always been thinking about. And Lawrence sharply criticizes capitalist industrial civilization which has caused the deterioration of natural environment and the disharmonious relationships of man and nature and man and man. Lawrence strongly calls for getting rid of the shackles of anthropocentrism, respecting the right of nature and preserving natural environment. Meanwhile, Lawrence advocates relying on ethics to readjust the relationship between man and nature to promote the harmonious human relationships, which is an important way to realize sustainable development in human society. In fact, what Lawrence is greatly concerned about is also the core issues of eco-ethics.