In his introduction to Fantasia of the unconscious and psychoanalysis and the unconscious, Lawrence acknowledges that many heterogeneous influences – Eastern philosophies, religions, and mysticisms – have given shape to his intuitive insights and determined his worldview. To peruse the discourse that underlies this vision, it is interesting to submit Lawrence's rhetoric, as it appears in his non-fictional writings (essays, criticisms, theories, etc.), to a 'structuralist poetic' scrutiny and expose the intrinsic mechanics of his discourse to a deeper ‘post-structuralist’, de-consrtructivist reading. For Jonathan Culler, no matter the positioning of the reader, it is almost always inescapable for him or her not to grapple with a close reading of the text: “Whatever critical affiliations we may proclaim, we are all New Critics, in that it requires a strenuous effort to escape notions of the autonomy of the literary work, the importance of demonstrating its unity, and the requirement of ‘close reading’”.
Table of Contents
Abstract
Keywords
D. H. Lawrence's Manichean Discourse or Janus-like Vision: Dualism vs. Holism
Sample analysis based a selection of 3 quotations
Holistic/holy reality (life transcending and defeating death)
Appendices: Main quotations from D. H. Lawrence's "Reflections on the Death of a Porcupine" in his book Selected Essays:
Supplementary quotations
Quotations from D. H. Lawrence's "Whistling of Birds" in his book Selected Essays:
Objective & Topics
This paper aims to analyze D. H. Lawrence’s non-fictional writings through a structuralist and semiotic lens, arguing that his discourse moves beyond a surface-level Manichean dualism toward a deeper, holistic, and unified worldview. By examining his use of polarized semes and isotopies, the research investigates how Lawrence integrates binary oppositions to form a coherent, synthetic "self."
- Structuralist and semiotic analysis of Lawrence's non-fictional prose.
- Examination of Manichean polarities (e.g., life vs. death, existence vs. being).
- The role of "isotopies" and "classemes" in structuring Lawrentian discourse.
- Lawrence's perception of a holistic "Holy Spirit" or "third thing" that resolves dualism.
- Synthesis of the "living self" through dialectical relationships.
Excerpt from the Book
Sample analysis based a selection of 3 quotations
In "Reflections on the Death of a Porcupine" (53 – 72), one of the essays in part I of Selected Essays called "Love and Life," Lawrence reveals his inner debate and heavy conscience after killing a porcupine that has strayed into his private ranch at night and disrupted the tranquillity of 'Madame', his wife Frieda Von Richthofen. The whole event sounds like a sublimated 'cas de conscience' the narration of which digresses into a sort of philosophic pamphleteering and theorization about life and death. Indeed, after admitting that mysterious unknowable quantity, we call life, and adopting a strategy of self-righteous justification for having slaughtered in cold blood the poor porcupine, Lawrence launches in a long extrapolation about the antagonistic orders of life and the notion of the "survival of the fittest" (64). He asserts, while trying to expatiate on, what he calls "the inexorable law of life" (66). I quote:
1. Any creature that attains to its own fullness of being, its own living self, becomes unique, a nonpareil. It has its place in the fourth dimension, the heaven of existence, and there it is perfect, it is beyond comparison. (emphasis added 66)
Summary of Chapters
D. H. Lawrence's Manichean Discourse or Janus-like Vision: Dualism vs. Holism: This opening section establishes the linguistic framework of the paper, introducing structuralist concepts by Saussure and Greimas to analyze the recurrent polarities in Lawrence's work.
Sample analysis based a selection of 3 quotations: This chapter applies semiotic analysis to excerpts from Lawrence's essay "Reflections on the Death of a Porcupine," demonstrating how he polarizes semes such as "life" and "death" to create semantic coherence.
Holistic/holy reality (life transcending and defeating death): This chapter argues that Lawrence resolves his Manichean dualism by introducing a "third entity" or "Holy Ghost" that acts as a synthetic, unifying force within his worldview.
Keywords
Polarities, Manichean, Discourse, Isotopy, Seme, Classeme, Holism, Dualism, Structuralism, Semiotics, Lawrence, Synthesis, Self, Existence, Being.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on analyzing D. H. Lawrence's non-fictional essays to understand how he employs binary oppositions and structuralist linguistic patterns to construct his unique worldview.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The central themes include the tension between dualism and holism, the struggle between "life" and "death," and the pursuit of a unified, "living self" that transcends antagonistic realities.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to demonstrate that beneath Lawrence's apparent Manichean dualism lies a deep-seated holistic vision that seeks to synthesize fragmented contradictions into a meaningful, organic whole.
Which scientific methods are utilized for the analysis?
The author employs a structuralist and semiotic approach, specifically utilizing Greimas's concepts of "semes," "classemes," and "isotopies" to dissect Lawrence's rhetoric.
What topics are covered in the main body of the work?
The main body examines Lawrence's non-fictional texts, particularly "Reflections on the Death of a Porcupine," to identify the rhetorical strategies used to frame dualistic concepts and reconcile them through the "Holy Spirit."
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Manichean, Dualism, Holism, Isotopy, Semiotics, Discourse, and the philosophical integration of polarized concepts.
How does Lawrence use the "Holy Ghost" in his arguments?
Lawrence introduces the "Holy Ghost" as a synthesizing agent—a "third thing"—that reconciles the "dualistic nature" of reality, allowing for a harmonious existence beyond simple binary conflicts.
How is the "living self" defined within Lawrence’s discourse?
The "living self" is defined as a synthetic, perfect state of being that is attained through creative relationships with the polarized "other," moving beyond mere existential survival.
- Citar trabajo
- Mansour Khelifa (Autor), 2015, D. H. Lawrence's Manichean Discourse or Janus-like Vision: Dualism vs. Holism, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/293324
