D.H. Lawrence's Harmonious Society

D. H. Lawrence is one of the most unique and controversial writers of the twentieth century in English and world literature. He is famous for his frank treatment of sex and his outspoken upon the need for a readjustment in the relationship between men and women and human and nature, which is defamed and severely criticized as well. Women in Love is D. H. Lawrence's favorite novel that he has created. In this novel, with a writer's sharp eyes and intuitive knowledge, Lawrence explored how to establish a harmonious and perfect society in the modern industrial society by readjusting the relationship between men and women and human and nature. Women in Love represents the supreme technical innovation and creative achievement of Lawrence.The term ecofeminism is first introduced in 1974 by the French feminist Francoise D' Eaubonne in her book Le feminisme ou la mort. There are a variety of perspectives on ecofeminism, but "all ecofeminism agree that there are important connections between the unjustified dominations of women and nature" (Warren,2000:21). Ecofeminists argue that the dominations of women and nature are analogous since they stem from the same source—the oppressive patriarchal conceptual frameworks. On the one hand, ecofeminism strongly rejects the oppressive patriarchal conceptual frameworks which justify men's twin dominations of nature and women; on the other hand, it aims at the achievement of the ecological sustainability and the equality between women and men. Lawrence's ideal echoes the theory of ecofeminism. In the novel Women in Love, Lawrence not only reveals his condemnation of man's damage to nature and the evils of the domination-subordination relationship between men and women, but also advocates that men and women, human and nature are mutually inter-dependent, and that equal and harmonious relationships should be established between men and women, human and nature. The author of this thesis intents to interpret Women in Love from the perspective of ecofeminism and explores Lawrence's harmonious society.This thesis is divided into six chapters.Chapter One is introduction which will give a brief review of D. H. Lawrence and his representative work Women in Love along with the female protagonist—Ursula. The following are the introductions to the purpose and significance of this thesis and outline of this thesis.Chapter Two is about the theoretical basis and literature review. Section one is an introduction to the rise and development of ecofeminism along with its major thoughts. Section two is literature review. In this section, the author represents the researches on Women in Love studied by domestic and foreign scholars. Most of the scholars study this novel from the perspectives of Feminism, the subject of the novel, and the usage of symbolism instead of ecofeminism. As to the scholars who study Women in Love from the perspective of ecofeminism, they pay more attention to the relationship between men and women, human and nature. The interpretation of sexual relationship by ecofeminism is rare. Thus the interpretation of sexual relationship from the perspective of ecofeminism is the innovation of this thesis.Chapter Three is an introduction to Lawrence's "Sexual Philosophy". The First World War makes Lawrence lose his confidence in western civilization. He is aware of the disaster the civilization brought about. He shows his great concern for the future of human beings, in his awareness of the alienation of civilized man in whom all belief have died. Only by restoring the harmonious interconnection of body and soul between men and women, Lawrence believes that civilization can be completely overthrown. Thus, he advocates firmly his "sexual philosophy"—to establish harmonious sexual relationship between men and women, which is what he prescribed for the civilized people. Section one of this chapter is the formation process of Lawrence's "Sexual Philosophy". The following three sections are the analysis of figures in Women in Love. The harmonious sexual relationship is a unity of soul and physical body, and they are inseparable. Ecofeminism resists any binary opposition, for example, man and women, nature and culture and so on. Ecofeminists believe that the world is mutually interrelated, interdependent and reciprocal. The soul and physical body as a contradiction are also inseparable. Section two is an introduction to the relationship between Gudrun and Gerald, which mainly concerns the lust of the flesh. Section three discusses the relationship between Hermione and Birkin. By contrast to the relationship between Gudrun and Gerald, both of Hermione and Birkin concern the spiritual communication. Section four is the introduction to the relationship between Birkin and Ursula, which is the ideal sexual relationship—the unity of physical body and spiritual communication. Thus, Lawrence's "Sexual Philosophy" is a significant embodiment of ecofeminism. Lawrence's ideal sexual relationship is expounded.Chapter Four mainly discusses Lawrence's understandings of interpersonal relationship. Ecofeminists argue that the source of domination of women and nature are the oppressive patriarchal conceptual frameworks. In Lawrence's opinion, the domination relations should be destroyed in order to establish harmonious interpersonal relationship. Section one is about Gerald's death. Gerald is a man with strong will to dominate, and Gudrun is the woman whom Gerald wants to control. But finally Gudrun abandons Gerald. Gerald's cult of mind and strong will not only to fails to provide hum a sense of meaning in life, but also causes his death. Gerald's death is the symbol of the deconstruction of the patriarchal conceptual frameworks. Section two is about the relationship between man and man. Firstly, the author introduces Birkin's theory of love:star—equilibrium and Blutbruderschaft. He thinks that personal fulfillment can only be achieved through polarized relationships with other people. Star—equilibrium refers to the balanced relationship between man and woman where two lovers are both perfectly free and single but linked with mutual fulfillment. Blubruderschaft, or manly love, is different from male friendship and it is not sexual. Then by the descriptions of the words and body movements between Birkin and Gerald, the author specifically analyzes the Blubruderschaft, or manly love.Chapter Five discusses Lawrence's understandings of the relationship between human and nature. Ecofeminist Merchant argues that the nature should be seen as a living organism and "a nurturing mother; a kindly beneficent female who provided for the needs of mankind" (Merchant, 1996:77). Ecofeminists advocate that the relationship between human and nature should be mutually interdependent, and human can't arbitrarily destroy the nature for their needs. Section one is about Lawrence's world view of nature. He thinks that the nature as an organic whole is the source of human's vitality. Human as one part of nature is equal with the other creatures. Apart from the nature, human will lose their vitality. Thus, he advocates human returning to the nature in order to gain rebirth. Section two is the realistic significance of Lawrence's world view of nature. Human beings should exploit and utilize the nature, and respect the right of the nature as well.Chapter Six is conclusion. Section one is a summary of the whole thesis. Section two states the findings and limitations. Section three is the suggestion for the further research.