The Vital Life: D.H. Lawrence's Response to a Dehumanized World

As D.H. Lawrence experienced World War I and the Industrial Revolution, he recognized the inner spirits of men and women being valued less in the midst of war and industrialism. Lawrence's novels, short stories, and other works dramatize this dehumanizing process. Of his novels, five will be examined in this study: Sons and Lovers, The Rainbow, Women in Love, The Plumed Serpent, and Lady Chatterley's Lover. Pivotal relationships between men and women are outlined by Lawrence to illustrate the ways in which they either reflect or challenge society. Lawrence gives the readers a view of the modern age torn apart by industrialization and war in the five novels studied. He also illustrates specific areas of life that embody mechanistic qualities. By studying both the male­ female relationships which are de-personalized and those which are empowering, one can see the impact of dehumanization on the human spirit and conversely, the qualities which lead to an enriching, vital life.