An exploration into literary censorship in Australia using the infamous Lady Chatterley's Lover as case study. While this novel may seem relatively inoffensive by today’s standards, Lady Chatterley’s Lover must be considered within the context of the puritanical Australia of the 1920s-1960s. At this time, Australia had the strictest censorship of any democratic nation.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Initial Banning and Censorship
- The Definition of Obscenity and Censorship in Australia
- Moral Standards and the Controversy Surrounding the Novel
- The Householder Test and the Banning of Lady Chatterley's Lover
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay aims to chart the history of D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover in Australia, focusing on its censorship and eventual release. It examines the context of Australia's strict censorship regime during the 1920s-1960s and analyzes how the novel challenged prevailing moral standards.
- The history of censorship in Australia.
- The application of obscenity laws to literature.
- The role of social and moral standards in shaping censorship decisions.
- The impact of Lady Chatterley's Lover on the Australian censorship debate.
- The "householder test" and its implications.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage by highlighting the controversial nature of D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover since its 1928 publication. It establishes the novel's central theme—the affair between an aristocratic woman and her gamekeeper—and emphasizes the significant role its publication played in shaping Australia's censorship landscape. The author previews the essay's focus on tracing the novel's journey through Australia's strict censorship apparatus, from its initial ban to its eventual release. The introduction expertly frames the seemingly innocuous subject matter within the context of a highly puritanical Australia, thereby highlighting the significance of the work's challenges to prevailing societal norms and beliefs of the time.
Initial Banning and Censorship: This section details the initial banning of Lady Chatterley's Lover in Australia. It recounts how the Customs service intercepted the novel in 1929, despite an attempt to disguise its importation. The chapter highlights the risks faced by importers and publishers who dealt with such materials, with fines or imprisonment a potential outcome. The section places the novel's banning within the broader context of a wave of bannings targeting "modern" novels that pushed boundaries in sexual representation during the period between 1929 and 1930. The Customs Service's actions are framed as an attempt to protect the Australian public from moral contamination. The chapter establishes the high stakes associated with the publication and distribution of literature that explored sexual themes in Australia at the time.
The Definition of Obscenity and Censorship in Australia: This section delves into the legal and practical aspects of censorship in Australia. It examines the Customs Regulations and the criteria used to define obscenity, blasphemy, and sedition. The essay highlights the fear of obscenity as a threat to social morality and explains how censorship operated at both state and Commonwealth levels. It mentions raids on bookshops and the ease with which authors could face prosecution based on a single complaint. The chapter explains how the subjective nature of obscenity made it difficult to define and how this subjectivity affected the application of censorship laws. Importantly, it includes a quote from the 1946 Comptroller-General of Customs, highlighting the prevailing moral concerns about the potential corrupting influence of literature considered obscene. The chapter illustrates the pervasive nature of censorship and its impact on literary expression.
Moral Standards and the Controversy Surrounding the Novel: This chapter explores the moral context surrounding the controversy over Lady Chatterley's Lover. It argues that the novel's depiction of a passionate affair between a woman of high social standing and a man of lower class was a significant source of contention. It links the controversy to the clash between the novel's themes and the prevailing puritanical moral standards of the time. The chapter further contextualizes the controversy by discussing the novel's challenges to the class system and its significance within the broader context of modern literature's explorations of sex and gender. It quotes Nicole Moore to support the argument that the rejection of modernism, including the explicit depiction of sex, was a hallmark of the interwar period in Australia. The chapter culminates in a revealing quote from the Minister for Customs, reflecting the prevailing societal attitudes of the era.
The Householder Test and the Banning of Lady Chatterley's Lover: This concluding section focuses on the "householder test" and its pivotal role in the novel's ban. The chapter thoroughly analyzes the test's patronizing and sexist nature, explaining its influence on the censorship decisions. It underscores the pervasive assumption that the average Australian male would deem the novel unsuitable for his wife, thereby highlighting the ingrained gender biases and societal expectations prevalent at the time. The chapter underscores the book’s prohibition as a direct result of the test’s application, emphasizing the ban as a symbol of the broader censorship regime in 20th-century Australia. The section effectively ties together the various themes and arguments explored throughout the essay, concluding the narrative without revealing any major conclusions or spoilers from a potential final chapter.
Keywords
Australian censorship, Lady Chatterley's Lover, D.H. Lawrence, obscenity, moral standards, social class, householder test, literary censorship, interwar Australia, modern literature.
Frequently Asked Questions: Lady Chatterley's Lover in Australia
What is the main focus of this essay?
This essay charts the history of D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover in Australia, specifically focusing on its censorship and eventual release. It examines the Australian censorship regime of the 1920s-1960s and how the novel challenged prevailing moral standards.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
The essay explores the history of censorship in Australia, the application of obscenity laws to literature, the role of social and moral standards in censorship decisions, the impact of Lady Chatterley's Lover on the Australian censorship debate, and the implications of the "householder test."
What is covered in the "Introduction" section?
The introduction sets the stage by highlighting the controversial nature of Lady Chatterley's Lover and its central theme (the affair between an aristocratic woman and her gamekeeper). It previews the essay's focus on the novel's journey through Australia's censorship system.
What does the section on "Initial Banning and Censorship" detail?
This section details the initial banning of the novel in Australia in 1929, highlighting the risks faced by importers and publishers and placing the ban within the broader context of bannings targeting "modern" novels during that period.
What is discussed in "The Definition of Obscenity and Censorship in Australia"?
This section delves into the legal and practical aspects of censorship in Australia, examining the criteria used to define obscenity, blasphemy, and sedition. It highlights the fear of obscenity as a threat to social morality and explains how censorship operated at different levels. The subjective nature of obscenity and its impact on the application of censorship laws are also discussed.
What is the focus of "Moral Standards and the Controversy Surrounding the Novel"?
This chapter explores the moral context of the controversy, focusing on the novel's depiction of a passionate affair and its challenge to prevailing puritanical moral standards and the class system. It connects the controversy to the rejection of modernism in interwar Australia.
What role does the "householder test" play in the essay's narrative?
The concluding section focuses on the "householder test" and its pivotal role in the novel's ban. It analyzes the test's patronizing and sexist nature and its influence on censorship decisions, highlighting the ingrained gender biases and societal expectations of the time.
What keywords are associated with this essay?
Keywords include Australian censorship, Lady Chatterley's Lover, D.H. Lawrence, obscenity, moral standards, social class, householder test, literary censorship, interwar Australia, and modern literature.
What is the overall purpose of the essay?
The essay aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the censorship of Lady Chatterley's Lover in Australia, examining the legal, social, and moral contexts that shaped its reception and eventual release.
- Quote paper
- Sophie Lamell (Author), 2011, Censorship in Australia - The Case of Lady Chatterley's Lover, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/205358
