Depiction of Obscenity in D.H.Lawrence’sSons and Lovers

Abstract

Edwardian society held some ideal and values that they considered as sacred nevertheless, D.H Lawrence deviated from those ideals of morality and woman chastity with the novel Sons and Lovers. This dissertation aims to analyze the way the author incorporated the Freudian psychoanalytical theories in depicting the themes of obscenity, adultery and marital betrayal through a thorough depiction of Victorian society. The first chapter explains new historicism as a literary theory and its usage in the analysis of Lawrence’s novel. In addition, it provides a historical overview of the Edwardian society within all its aspect of women struggle and social reforms, while defining the notion of marriage, sex and love. On the other hand, the second chapter introduces the novel with all its characters and plot. Furthermore, it examines Lawrence’s portrayal of sexuality through Freud’s viewpoints of Oedipus complex. It is necessary to consider Sons and Lovers as a revolutionary novel that broke off the taboos of the Victorian society and put forth the notion of the human desire and obscenity.