英语本科毕业论文-An Analysis of the Distorted Male and Female Relationships in Sons and Lovers.doc

此文档收集于网络，如有侵权，请联系网站删除 丽水学院毕业论文（2012届）精品文档题 目 An Analysis of the Distorted Male and Female Relationships in Sons and Lovers 指导教师 院 系 外国语学院英语系 班 级 英本084 学 号 姓 名 二一二 年 五 月 一 日An Analysis of the Distorted Male and Female Relationships in Sons and LoversChen ZhendanEnglish 2008Supervisor: He QingmangMay 1, 2012AcknowledgementsI am wholeheartedly grateful to all who have helped me during my writing of this thesis. Their kindness and advice have made this work possible. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor He Qingmang, who closely read and polished the early draft of my thesis, and generously gave me invaluable criticism and encouragement. Her effective advice, shrewd comments and quick corrections have kept the thesis in the right direction. I also owe much gratitude to Professor Yang Jie, Professor Shen Yugang, and many others, from whose thought-stimulating lectures and help, I have learned a lot. They have improved me in language and in research methodology and have shown me into the fascinating world of English language. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my classmates and friends, who generously gave me their encouragement. Last but not least, this thesis is dedicated to my dear and lovely parents, whose tender support and deep affection have accompanied and will company me for ever. ContentsAcknowledgementsiContentsiiAbstractiii摘要ivOutlinev1. Introduction12. Lawrences exploration of male and female relationship32.1 His relationships with three women32.2 His ideals of male and female relationship42.2.1 The relationship of healthy sexual interaction52.2.2 The relationship of dialectical unification63. Characteristics of the male and female relationships in the novel73.1 Distorted love between a son and his mother: Paul and Gertrude73.2 Absolute spiritual love without sex: Paul and Miriam103.3 Addiction to the sexual experience: Paul and Clara134. Significance of the depiction of these relationships154.1. Significance to the individuals154.2 Significance to the society and the whole civilization175. Conclusion19Works Cited21AbstractThis thesis discusses the distorted male and female relationships in Sons and Lovers based on Lawrences views on what is an ideal relationship. According to Lawrence, the ideal relationship mainly consists of two aspects: the involvement of healthy sexual interaction and the dialectical unification of men and women. These ideals are well reflected from the reverse side by the characteristics of the three pairs of relationships in the novel which are given in detail. The relationship between Gertrude and Paul is the distorted love of a mother to a son, which prohibits the normal development of the sons relations with his lovers. Miriam and Paul love each other only spiritually. Clara and Paul only have physical communion. Thus, the depiction of these three abnormal relationships is significant. On the one hand, it helps the development of the individuals both mentally and physically. On the other hand, it provides the dehumanized modern society a way of coming back to nature and contributes to constructing a harmonious relationship. Key words: Lawrence; distorted relationship; healthy sexual interaction; dialectical unification摘要该论文依据劳伦斯的理想两性观讨论儿子与情人中扭曲的两性关系。就劳伦斯而言，理想两性关系主要包括两个方面：健康性爱的参与及男女双方辩证统一的关系。小说中的三对男女关系的特点从反面很好地反映了理想的两性关系。吉特鲁德和保罗之间扭曲的母爱阻碍了保罗与情人之间正常的恋爱关系的发展，米丽安和保罗只有精神之爱，克莱拉和保罗则只有肉体交流。因此，这三对不正常关系的刻画具有重大意义。一方面，它有助于个人精神和身体的成长。另一方面，它为非人性化的现代社会提供回归自然的途径，有助于构建和谐的两性关系。关键词： 劳伦斯；扭曲的两性关系；健康性爱；辩证统一Outline1. Introduction2. Lawrences exploration of male and female relationship2.1 His relationships with three women2.2 His ideals of male and female relationship 2.2.1 The relationship of healthy sexual interaction 2.2.2 The relationship of dialectical unification3. Characteristics of the male and female relationships in the novel 3.1 Distorted love between a son and his mother: Paul and Gertrude3.2 Absolute spiritual love without sex: Paul and Miriam3.3 Addiction to the sexual experience: Paul and Clara4. Significance of the depiction of these relationships4.1 Significance to the individuals4.2 Significance to the society and the whole civilization5. Conclusion1. IntroductionD. H. Lawrence is a serious writer who has always been concerned with the social status in the 20th century, though some of his works like Lady Chatterleys Lover have aroused controversial dispute among the public. Most of his works are profound social criticism of the industrial civilization, for its “ruthless violation of the human soul, harnessing it to social, economic, and political commitments, and depriving it of its original, pious ability-the instinct to love in a pure and sincere way” (Chang, 2006: 407). As far as Lawrence is concerned, it is the industrial civilization which prescribes that the human nature of love should be suppressed and hidden that leads to the dehumanization of human nature and the dehumanizing relationship between men and women. Most of his works, to some degree, express his exploration on the male and female relationship. Lawrences exploration of male and female relationship starts from his own life experiences. It goes through a long period of observation and creation. The first attempt of relating this topic is in the work White Peacock, which reflects the writers preliminary thinking on the physical love and spiritual love, whereas The Trespasser is the deepening of the topic. The work Sons and Lovers is the one that probes into the dehumanizing male and female relationship. Compared with the three works mentioned above, Lady Chatterleys Lover is the deepest exploration of the ideal male and female relationship, which is realized by only the sexual interaction (Liu Hongtao, 2007: 2-5). Among these representative books, Sons and Lovers is a typical book criticizing the industrial civilization for its dehumanizing effect on human mind, resulting in inharmonious relationships between men and women. It reflects some of Lawrences visions of how to save the dehumanized society. Various perspectives of study have been given to this work. Some researchers have paid attention to the study of the male and female relationship in the novel. One of them is Zhou Liyang whose essay gives a detailed analysis of the reasons for the dissimilation of sexual relations in Sons and Lovers. She owes the failure of love and marriage to the influence of modern social civilization and human nature weakness (2006: 145). Wang Xinchun and Kang Chunyan also make a research on the sexual relations from the perspective of sexual harmony based on the theory of psychology by Sigmund Freud. They consider that the inharmonious sexual relationship is the cause of the tragedy of Paul and his mother. Their essay also relates quite detailed information about the relations of Gertrude and her son Paul, Paul and his two girlfriends. Another scholar Yin Jiming says a perfect relationship in a marriage needs the bond of both spirit and body, and it should be presented by the abandonment of the old self and the appearing of a new self (2006: 165). He also reveals the significance of the relationships in his thesis. That is the exploration of the internal links of sex, industrial civilization, and sound human nature (2006: 166). However, their studies of the male and female relationship in the novel are either too simple or with insufficient details. Zhou Liyangs essay only gives the reasons for the dehumanization of the relationships between Paul and the three women in his life. As for Lawrences ideals of male and female relationship, she does give her vision. Nevertheless, its brief and not systematic. Wang Xinchun and Kang Chunyan also dont give a detailed analysis of Lawrences ideals of male and female relationship. The significance that they have pointed out is insufficient and monotonous. The shortage of Yin Jimings essay lies in that it doesnt give a clear and detailed analysis of the characteristics of the relationships as it is not combined with the detailed analysis of the text itself. As none of the researches of these scholars have systematical studies on Lawrences ideals of male and female relationship and the features of the abnormal relationships in Sons and Lovers, it is significant to further the study, which is what this thesis will deal with. In this thesis, Lawrences ideals of male and female relationships are employed as a theoretical basis for the exploration of the characteristics of the distorted relationships in the novel. The discoveries of these characteristics can provoke people to think further how they can avoid similar tragedies and what they can do to maintain a well-balanced relationship, and simultaneously they can also make people have a better understanding of Lawrences inner world and ideal pursuit. Thats the major significance of the whole thesis.The thesis mainly consists of five parts. The first part is an introduction concerning the research background and the framework of the thesis. The second part deals with Lawrences ideals of male and female relationship: the involvement of healthy sexual interaction and the dialectical unification of men and women, providing a theoretical basis for the later discussion. The third part gives a detailed analysis of the characteristics of the three pairs of abnormal relationships with a thorough combination of the text and Lawrences views on ideal relationship. The fourth part discusses the profound meaning of the depiction of the distorted relationships in the novel. The last part comes to a conclusion, in which what have been stated in the previous parts is strengthened. 2. Lawrences exploration of male and female relationshipLawrences research on the male and female relationship is not a rhapsody. It is based on his painful relationships with some important women in his life. His personal experiences impel him to reflect on what a perfect male and female relationship is and how to achieve that. Thats what this part of the thesis will elaborate on.2.1 His relationships with three womenThree women decisively affected Lawrences life. They are his mother Lydia Lawrence, Jessie Chambers and Louie Burrows. Lydia Lawrence found her marriage life miserable and her husband shared no common interest with her. Thus, she turned all her attention to her son William Ernest. Unfortunately, the brutal blow of her beloved son died of erysipelas complicated by pneumonia made Lydia withdraw into the state of being half dead. The fact that her youngest son Lawrence was being attacked by pneumonia made her aware that she couldnt afford to lose him again. After she succeeded in saving her sons life, she was so afraid of losing him that she began manipulating him with a love more than that of a mother, which was very suffocating to the growing-up Lawrence. This kind of monopoly didnt end until the death of the mother. It prohibited the growth of Lawrence into a mature man. As he said: “From the death of my mother, the world began to dissolve around me, beautiful iridescent, but passing away substanceless. Till I almost dissolved away myself, and was very ill” (qtd. in Salgado, 2005: 27).Another woman in Lawrences life is Jessie Chambers whom Lawrence met before the summer when William died. Jessie Chambers formed a quite intimate friendship with Lawrence. She found in him the same enthusiasm towards the things of mind. They read together whatever they could find including fiction, poetry, autobiography, history, philosophy and have the most pure exchange of ideas and thoughts. Jessie Chambers is actually the “Miriam” of Sons and Lovers. The relationship between Lawrence and Jessie deteriorated, when Lawrence was completely dominated by his mother, emotionally though not intellectually. This relationship was to last four more years before it finally collapsed. The reason was well explained in a letter of Lawrence for Jessie that he could love the “deep spirit within” her all his life but he could only give her what he “would give a holy nun. So you must let me marry a woman I can kiss and embrace and make the mother of my children” (qtd. in Salgado, 2005: 22).Lawrence also developed relationship with Louie Burrows. However, it is still an unsuccessful one. “His relationship with Louie Burrows was slowly reaching withering-rather breaking point. His letters to her did not suggest that he ever treated her as an intellectual or emotional equal” (Salgado, 2005: 30).It is evident that Lawrences mothers emotional monopoly in his childhood had such a great effect on Lawrence that he couldnt grow up into a mature man and have a normal relationship with other women. Jessie could give him all the spirit life he desired but none of the physical touch, not even a kiss, a hug, not to mention to have sex. A relationship without sex cant help both sides to achieve their new-selves. Another woman Louie Burrows was never regarded by Lawrence as an “intellectual.” Thus, the lack of emotional communication also makes a failed relationship.These complicated relationships between Lawrence and his lovers in his actual life make Lawrence reflect on the problemwhat is the perfect male and female relationship. His unique thoughts on this problem will be discussed as follows. 2.2 His ideals of male and female relationship Lawrences ideals of male and female relationship can be summed up as two parts: the involvement of healthy sexual interaction and the state of dialectical unification. As for the healthy sexual interaction, it has its distinct difference from “pornography” and “obscenity”. According to Lawrence, the root of the suppression of mans natural instinct of love is the industrial civilization. The only way of helping modern people extricate them from this dehumanizing control of industrial civilization is through the liberation of sex. However, a relationship wont be harmonious if there is only the indulgence in sex. It also needs the communion of spirit of both parties. The significance of healthy sexual interaction is not only helping people get rid of the dehumanizing condition but also discover the self-identity of each individual. As for the other part, the dialectical unification means men and women keep a good balance between wholeness and independence. Men and women are inseparable from each other under the prerequisite of respecting each others independence or self-identity. 2.2.1 The relationship of healthy sexual interactionSexual interaction is an important part of Lawrences exploration of the ideal relations between men and women. He once proclaimed that “Im sure that only through a readjustment between men and women, and a making free and healthy of the sex will she get out of her present atrophy” (qtd. in Salgado, 2005: 36). What he means by “free and healthy sex” is something that