Back To Nature:Ecological Thoughts In Lawrence's The White Peacock

D.H.Lawrence(1885-1930)is one of the most talented and influential writers in western culture in the early twentieth century.British critic Leavis praised him as“one of the most important novelists and the first-class in English literature tradition.”D.H.Lawrence intends to achieve unity between human and nature through a harmonious interpersonal relationship in his literature creation.Many researches have been made on his novels by the scholars at home and abroad.However,there are few studies on his first novel The White Peacock.This novel takes Lawrence's hometown Eastwood as its background,in which people live a peaceful and self-sufficient life.Lawrence's initial ecological thoughts are exposed in The White Peacock.Ecocriticism as a concept can be traced back to the 1970 s.According to Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm,ecocriticism is the study of the relationship between literature and the physical environment.Ecocriticism is also an academic method which can be adopted to analyze the ecological connotation and the relationship between man and nature in literary works.Nature is an eternal topic in the study of ecocriticism.In China,Lu Shuyuan proposed “Trichotomy”.He claims that the study on ecocriticism can be conducted from the following three perspectives: natural ecology,social ecology and spiritual ecology.Lawrence highlights nature in The White Peacock and intends to construct an ideal mode of harmonious relationship between man,nature and self.The thesis attempts to analyze Lawrence's ecological thoughts from the perspective of “Trichotomy”The thesis falls into five parts.Chapter one introduces Lawrence's achievements in literature,previous studies on The White Peacock at home and abroad,as well as the theoretical basis of this thesis.Chapter two interprets Lawrence's natural ecological thoughts in relationship between man and nature.This part mainly explores Lawrence's attitudes toward animals and plants.As a strong claimer of non-anthropocentrism,he holds that people should show respects for nature,rather than consider themselves as the center of the universe.Furthermore,human beings should take a rational attitude towards the inherent natural attribute in them.Lawrence attaches importance to human nature through the portrayal of George.In order to persuade Lettie to come along with him again,George gives up his human nature and learns to be a civilized man.George's tragic destiny is a product of industrialcivilization.Lawrence believes that only when human are unified with nature can everything get balanced.Chapter three analyzes Lawrence's social ecological thoughts in relationship between man and man.As a part of society,man has its own social attribute,but the relationship between man and man becomes indifferent and alienated.Lawrence's reflection on the sexual relationship is presented through the tragedies of the short-lived love between Lettie and George,and the alienated marriage between Lettie and Leslie.Faced with the social dilemmas in the relationship between man and woman,Lawrence defines the pure friendship as a second source of creative more primitive energy,additional to the love between man and woman.Therefore,human and nature can reach a harmonious agreement.Chapter four interprets Lawrence's spiritual ecological thoughts in relationship between man and self.Studies on spiritual ecological thoughts mainly focus on man's inner emotions.The prompt development of the industrialization generates the tense of humanity: mankind becomes civilized but dehumanized,and society grows more mechanized.Lettie becomes spiritual fetish in facing of so many choices.Because of the deficiency of instinct and traditional intrinsic cultural values,she finally lives a hopeless life.However,Annable gives up his social attribute and returns to nature without any hesitation.Through the image of Annable,Lawrence calls on us to return to natural environment and human nature.Chapter five summarizes Lawrence's ecological thoughts in The White Peacock.In an age of increasing outbreaks of serious ecological crisis,man considers himself as the center of nature and is indifferent to others.According to Lawrence's ecological view,he puts a high value on the relationship among man?nature and ego through the way of back to nature.The interpretation of this novel from the perspective of ecocriticism has significant inspirations for the studies on his later works.It also reflects on human beings' choices from natural and social attributes.