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Art, Metaphysics and Civilization: Reading "The White Peacock" as the First Philosophical Work of D. H. Lawrence

Masato Torikai

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Art, Metaphysics and Civilization: Reading "The White Peacock" as the First Philosophical Work of D. H. Lawrence

by

Masato Torikai

Abstract

D. H. Lawrence claims that art comes into being through the emergence of metaphysics. He evinces a deep anxiety about metaphysics deteriorating because of the scientific and societal developments in early 20th-century Europe. This paper demonstrates that his attempt to realise his ideal art — art that is completely dependent on metaphysics — is seen in his first novel, The White Peacock, which is not generally regarded as a philosophical work. First, the paper defines the close relationship between Lawrence’s art creation and modern European civilisation and conducts a philosophical analysis of the narrative discourse with reference to the ideas of Arthur Schopenhauer — a considerable influence for Lawrence at the time of writing. Second, it verifies the idea that metaphysics is a substantial motive in Lawrence’s novel, one that enables him to approach the problems of modern European civilisation through the medium of literature.

Keywords

D. H. Lawrence Arthur Schopenhauer art metaphysics civilisation

Published in

Issue Vol. 5 No. 1 (2024)
Date 2024-06-10
Section

PHILOSOPHY & CULTURAL STUDIES
Pages 19-36

How to cite

Torikai, Masato. 2024. "Art, Metaphysics and Civilization: Reading ‘The White Peacock’ As the First Philosophical Work of D. H. Lawrence". Brolly 5 (1):19-36. https://journals.lapub.co.uk/index.php/brolly/article/view/2689.

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