A Quest For Self-Fulfillment

David Herbert Lawrence was one of the early 20th century's most controversial and talented novelists. Many of his novels have been popular all over the world. The Rainbow is one of his masterpieces. It is about three generations of the Brangwen family of Nottinghamshire from the 1840s to the early years of the 20th century. The author focuses on the individual's struggle to growth and fulfillment within marriage and changing social circumstances.This paper will first give an introduction to the theme of The Rainbow, the Brangwen women's attempts for a more harmonious man and woman relationship, which is the union of soul and body, and for a fulfilling life in the process of which these women try to find their true identity as being independent and self-responsible. Besides, Chapter One also recalls some of the critical studies of The Rainbow at home and abroad.Chapter Two analyzes the sources of inspiration and archetypes of these women figures, since they do not come from thin air. Since the First World War, the suffrage movement had been impinging upon Lawrence's thinking and his early works. Associating with feminists and influenced by feminist thinking, he portrayed a number of new women in his works of this period. They are a composite of his own ideas, the ideas of the times he lives in, and the expression of those ideas of the real women he loved. From these women characters we can feel his profound affection for women, as is different from some critics'view that he disliked and even held a strong hatred for women.Chapter Three studies the three female figures, Lydia, Anna and Ursula, who have left a deep impression upon the readers. Their personality, views on life and pursuit of self-fulfillment are surprisingly magnificent and instructive. Lydia, the Brangwen woman of the first generation, had a primary attempt to reach an ideal sexual relationship, a union between soul and body, in her first marriage, but failed. So she shrank to be content with her second marriage with Tom. Although they remained foreign to each other, they had a harmonious sexual relationship and led a quiet and self-contained life. The second generation, Anna, continued this pursuit, but ended up totally losing herself in the process. The first two generations'exploration was both confined to the male-female relationship. Ursula, from the third, also sought self-fulfillment in sexual relationship, but was disappointed and found that it was far from enough. In order to reach a higher mode of being, she should not merely concentrate on the family life. She needed to step forward, explore and change the society.Chapter Four is to be engaged in Lawrence's contributions and limitations. In spite of some limitations in his portrayal of women, his novels have made great contributions to the establishment of a new man and woman relationship, and his explorations have provided tentative suggestions for modern women's self-emancipation and self-fulfillment in the new century.Finally, we reach a conclusion. Lawrence was studying and expressing women problems all his life. Owing to different ages and nations, distinctive cultures and beliefs, there may be different understandings of Lawrence's ideas. However, his view on the development of women's self-consciousness is positive. Hence Lawrence has given us a serious warning that only when provided with real equality in the society can women fully exhibit their unique feminine wisdom, which is what the man's world lacks, for the benefit of both man and woman, and for the prosperity and welfare of the entire world.