earticle

영어

D. H. Lawrence's later novels, Aaron's Rod, Kangaroo, and The Plumed Serpent, seem to make up a trilogy. So far many of Lawrence's critics have regarded the trilogy as “leadership novels,” focusing on the single issue of power. I notice that there are two more issues, equally important, selfhood and sexuality, apart from the power issue. This paper is to confirm Lawrence's vision for complete accord of the three vital forces by analyzing the novels.
In Aaron's Rod, the principle of selfhood achieves balance with that of power. It also achieves balance with the principle of sexuality. Unfortunately this novel fails to reveal complete harmony and balance of the three vital forces.
In Kangaroo, no balance is achieved. Instead, there is a fierce struggle between the principle of power and that of selfhood. It is noticeable that in the struggle, the champion of selfhood wins over the principle of power.
In The Plumed Serpent, balance between the principle of selfhood and that of power; balance between the principle of selfhood and that of sexuality; and balance between the principle of sexuality and that of power are sequently achieved. By the end of this novel, a complete harmony and balance is achieved, with their peculiar vital forces kept alive.
In short, it is wrong to regard the trilogy only as “leadership novels” or “political novels”. This study has proven that it is a trilogy of rebirth, an attempt to reconcile selfhood, sexuality, and the power-urge, realizing the achievement of a vision of renewal of mankind's vitality.