Bhattacharya 1
Tanaya Bhattacharya
Dr. Jaydeep Rishi
PG- English, Core- 18
Roll No- 9222
Registration No- 1372021400824
The Study of Unconventionality in Heterosexual
Relationship in the context of D. H. Lawrence’s Novels: Sons
and Lovers and Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Abstract: Heterosexuality as a term, to identify a particular and
specific kind of gender identity has flourished in recent times but it is
an age-old concept as well as practice, primarily because of its
biological counterpart reproduction which is the foundation of
human society and its legacy. Heterosexual relationships had been
portrayed in myriad ways by many playwrights and novelists. But
unconventional heterosexual relationship is something that has been
discussed by few writers in English literature. One of the most
influential among them is of course D. H. Lawrence. This paper aims
to analyze the unconventional heterosexual relationships that had
been depicted in two of most famous novels, that is Sons and Lovers
(1913) and Lady Chatterley’s Lover (1928). In this, the
, Bhattacharya 2
unconventionality of the heterosexual mother-son relationship, as
depicted in Sons and Lovers will be discussed along with how the
factors of class and age play a determining role in a heterosexual
relationship as has been portrayed in Lady Chatterley’s lover. This
paper also aims to analyze the class difference of pre-war period as
depicted by Lawrence in his works. To discuss the unconventionality
of heterosexual relationship, Freud’s theory of “Oedipus Complex”
will be explored, in a comparative way.
Keywords: Mother-son relationship, unconventional heterosexual
relationship, Lawrence, class difference, Oedipus Complex.
Heterosexual relationship refers to a man-woman
relationship in any form like mother-son, father-daughter, brother-
sister, and husband-wife. According to the standards of twentieth
century English society, conventional heterosexual relationship
refers to a relation between the two sexes without any difference of
class or caste and it also strictly prohibits the practice of any kind of
homosexual relationship between the same sexes. ‘Heterosexuality’
as term comes from the Greek word “heteros”, meaning “different” or
“another” was first used along with the word homosexual by Karl
Maria Kertbeny in the year 1869. According to Merriam Webster,
heterosexuality is defined as “ a morbid sexual passion for one of the
, Bhattacharya 3
opposite sex”. Also in the twentieth century, with the rise of
feminism as a movement Adrienne Rich, a feminist critic opposed to
this social idea through her writings, that included an essay,
Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence in 1980. In this, she
contemplates her readers to think about the universal fact that
heterosexual relations are constructed and promoted by nation and
society, apart from that, there are many other feelings those men and
women can sense. She promotes lesbianism and urges people to
explore their sexuality and gender identity, unabashedly.
D. H. Lawrence similarly, focused on the unconventionality of
heterosexual relationships in many of his novels. David Herbert
Lawrence was born in 11th September 1885 in Eastwood at United
Kingdom. His father Arthur John Lawrence, was an illiterate and
work as a miner whereas mother Lydia Lawrence was a educated
woman and a school teacher. D. H. Lawrence was an English writer,
poet, essayist, novelist, playwright, literary critic etc. His works
reflect mainly upon modernity, industrialization, sexuality, social and
personal relationship, mental health etc. Lawrence was a prolific
writer, though his writings have instigated many controversies. He
never achieved fame in his lifetime because his works contradicts
and question the contemporary Victorian, moral standards and social
Tanaya Bhattacharya
Dr. Jaydeep Rishi
PG- English, Core- 18
Roll No- 9222
Registration No- 1372021400824
The Study of Unconventionality in Heterosexual
Relationship in the context of D. H. Lawrence’s Novels: Sons
and Lovers and Lady Chatterley’s Lover
Abstract: Heterosexuality as a term, to identify a particular and
specific kind of gender identity has flourished in recent times but it is
an age-old concept as well as practice, primarily because of its
biological counterpart reproduction which is the foundation of
human society and its legacy. Heterosexual relationships had been
portrayed in myriad ways by many playwrights and novelists. But
unconventional heterosexual relationship is something that has been
discussed by few writers in English literature. One of the most
influential among them is of course D. H. Lawrence. This paper aims
to analyze the unconventional heterosexual relationships that had
been depicted in two of most famous novels, that is Sons and Lovers
(1913) and Lady Chatterley’s Lover (1928). In this, the
, Bhattacharya 2
unconventionality of the heterosexual mother-son relationship, as
depicted in Sons and Lovers will be discussed along with how the
factors of class and age play a determining role in a heterosexual
relationship as has been portrayed in Lady Chatterley’s lover. This
paper also aims to analyze the class difference of pre-war period as
depicted by Lawrence in his works. To discuss the unconventionality
of heterosexual relationship, Freud’s theory of “Oedipus Complex”
will be explored, in a comparative way.
Keywords: Mother-son relationship, unconventional heterosexual
relationship, Lawrence, class difference, Oedipus Complex.
Heterosexual relationship refers to a man-woman
relationship in any form like mother-son, father-daughter, brother-
sister, and husband-wife. According to the standards of twentieth
century English society, conventional heterosexual relationship
refers to a relation between the two sexes without any difference of
class or caste and it also strictly prohibits the practice of any kind of
homosexual relationship between the same sexes. ‘Heterosexuality’
as term comes from the Greek word “heteros”, meaning “different” or
“another” was first used along with the word homosexual by Karl
Maria Kertbeny in the year 1869. According to Merriam Webster,
heterosexuality is defined as “ a morbid sexual passion for one of the
, Bhattacharya 3
opposite sex”. Also in the twentieth century, with the rise of
feminism as a movement Adrienne Rich, a feminist critic opposed to
this social idea through her writings, that included an essay,
Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence in 1980. In this, she
contemplates her readers to think about the universal fact that
heterosexual relations are constructed and promoted by nation and
society, apart from that, there are many other feelings those men and
women can sense. She promotes lesbianism and urges people to
explore their sexuality and gender identity, unabashedly.
D. H. Lawrence similarly, focused on the unconventionality of
heterosexual relationships in many of his novels. David Herbert
Lawrence was born in 11th September 1885 in Eastwood at United
Kingdom. His father Arthur John Lawrence, was an illiterate and
work as a miner whereas mother Lydia Lawrence was a educated
woman and a school teacher. D. H. Lawrence was an English writer,
poet, essayist, novelist, playwright, literary critic etc. His works
reflect mainly upon modernity, industrialization, sexuality, social and
personal relationship, mental health etc. Lawrence was a prolific
writer, though his writings have instigated many controversies. He
never achieved fame in his lifetime because his works contradicts
and question the contemporary Victorian, moral standards and social
