Mapping D. H. Lawrence’s Apocalypse: The path of prophecy through his fictional and non fictional works
Loading...
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of 20th August 1955-Skikda
Abstract
This thesis, entitled Mapping D. H. Lawrence’s Apocalypse: The path of
prophecy through his fictional and non fictional works, aims at showing how
Lawrence’s novels, The Rainbow, Women in Love and The Virgin and the Gypsy are a
working out of his singular vision and lead up to the composition of his Apocalypse,
which can be considered as the crystallization of his philosophy as a whole. The
following research will show how his original holistic conception of life enabled him
to create a totally new and dynamic form of expression in keeping with this
philosophy. His primary aim, to create a new and appropriate language for feelings,
pushed him to break with literary convention, experiment with style and re-interpret
well-established symbols in a new and totally innovative way. His specific symbols
and myths will be isolated to show not only their importance but also how they are
intrinsic parts or functional elements of what is Lawrence’s moral philosophy. To this
extent, Apocalypse can be seen as both a point of departure and a culmination of his
creative endeavour. Disillusioned with Freudian theories of the personality, he set out
to liberate man by formulating his own personal vision. Through an examination of
both his fictional and non-fictional works, we will reveal the paradox of his creative
thought. Namely, that the answer to the present turmoil lies in the simplicity of the
past. It will be shown how Lawrence discredited civilization, with its emphasis on
mind and reason, seeing it as responsible for its own nihilistic state. His answer, to
strip away layers of dogma and creed to find a basic kernel of truth linking man’svi
happiness to the cosmos, is a message which is as pertinent today as it was in the
turbulent times before his death in 1930.