David-Herbert-Lawrence

DavidHerbertLawrenceOneofthegreatest20thcenturyEnglishnovelistsThegreatestfromaworking-classfamily.OneofthefirstnoveliststointroducethemesofpsychologyintohisworksLawrence’sworksTheWhitePeacock(firstnovel,1911)SonsandLovers(1913,autobiographical)TheRainbow(1915)WomeninLove(1921)Kangaroo(1923)ThePlumedSerpent(1926)LadyChatterley’sLover(1928)Astrangeandultimatelytragictaleofayoungboywholearnshowtopickwinnersattheracetrackbyridinghisrockinghorsetoaidhisparentsoutoftheirendlessroundofdebts.SynopsisInPaul'sfamily,thereisalwaystalkaboutneedingmoremoney.ThetensioninthehouseholdoverlackoffundsweighsheavilyonPaul'syoungmind.AfterPaul'sunclecracksajokeaboutfilthylucker,hebecomesobsessedwithfindingluck,sothathisfamilywillhavethemoneytheyneed.Hisluckattheracetrackbeginstoimprove,butthecostmaybehigherthananyoneknows.CharactersPaul:themaincharacterinthestory.Hebelievesthatheisaluckypersonandwiththegiftwhenridinghisrockinghorse,hecanknowthewinnerofhorseraces.Inordertoprovehermotherthathecanfindluck;however,hedoesnotrealizetherewouldbeaterriblepricetopay.CharactersHester:Paul’smother.Sheiskindofmaterialwomananddoesnotfeelcontentwhatshehas.Shethinksherselfhavingnoluck,becauseherhusbandisanunluckyperson.CharactersThefather:Paul’sfather.Amiddle-ageddejectionmanwithnoluck.OscarCresswell:Paul’suncle.WhennoticingthatPaulisveryluckyatchoosingwhomthewinnerwouldbe,heapproachesPaulabouthislucky.After,hebecomesapartnerwithPaul.Bassett:HeisagardenerandapartnerwithPaul.Joan:Paul’eldersister.FamilyRelationship(OedipusComplex)PaulMotherRomance--Reality(Marriage)Father(Rocking-horse)LuckMaterialism(Money,Socialposition.)(Love)FamilyRelationshipHusband----→Wife“Therewasawomanwhowasbeautiful,whostartedwithalltheadvantages,yetshehadnoluck.Shemarriedforlovebutthelovehadturnedtodust.”“Althoughtheylivedinstyle,theyfeltalwaysananxietyinthehouse.Therewasneverenoughmoney.Themotherhadasmallincome,andthefatherhadasmallincome,butnotnearlyenoughforthesocialpositionwhichtheyhadtokeepup.Thefatherwentintotowntosomeoffice.Butthoughhehadgoodprospects,theseprospectsnevermaterialized.Therewasalwaysthegrindingsenseoftheshortageofmoney,thoughthestylewasalwayskeptup.”FamilyRelationshipParents----→ChildrenTherelationshipbetweenparentsandchildrenisquiteindifferent.Theparentsaretoobusyinkeepingtheirfame,profits,andsocialpositiontotakecareoftheirchildren.Nevertheless,children,especiallyattheageofPaul,needtheloveandcarefromparents.Thus,Paul,inordertoattracthismother’sattentionandpiecetogetherthewholefamily,gamblesthehorse-racingandgivesthemoneyrewardtohismother.However,hismotherisnotsatisfiedwiththemoney,shewantsmoreandmoreandfinallycausesthedeathofPaul.Love=Luck=LucreInthestory,themoneyisasymbolicsubstituteforloveandaffection.ToPaul,showinghismotherthathehasluckwhichhisfatherdoesn’thaveistheonlywaytowinhismother’saffectionandreleasethewhisperingaroundthehouse.Hemusthavethelucrewhichcomesofluck.Discussion1Question:Whatisthewritingstyleofstory?Discussion2Question:Doesthehousereallywhisperandwhyonlythechildrenandthetoyhearthewhisper?Discussion3Question:Whatarethethemesofthisstory?Discussion4Question:WhatdoyouknowaboutOedipusComplex?HowisitrevealedinTheRockingHorseWinner?Features&SignificanceofLawrence’sWritingThemajorcharacteristicsofhisnovel---combinedsocialcriticismwithpsychologicalexploration.Hewasconcernedwithtracingthepsychologicaldevelopmentofhischaracterandcriticismofthedehumanizingeffectofthecapitalistindustrializationonhumannature.Hemadeaboldpsychologicalexplorationofvarioushumanrelations,esp.thosebetweenmenandwomen,withagreatfrankness.WhatisLawrence’sinfluencetomodernandcontemporaryEnglishliterature?Bypresentingthepsychologicalexperienceofindividualhumanlifeandhumanrelationships,Lawrencehasopenedupawidenewterritorytothenovel.Hebelievedthatthehealthywayoftheindividual’spsychologicaldevelopmentlayintheprimacyofthelifeinpulse,orinanotherterm,thesexualimpulse.Humansexualitywas,toLawrence,asymbolofLifeForce.