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Human relationships : a cross-cultural and textual study of the fiction of Zhang Henshui and D.H. Lawrence
Author
Wang, Kongjing
Supervisor
Kirpal Singh
Woon, Wee Lee
Abstract
As science and technology strive to reduce space and hence knit mankind more closely than before, human life is no longer an isolated phenomenon. People of different cultural backgrounds are inhibiting today a global village and constantly rubbing shoulders with one another. Frequent contacts and transactions of every kind create for them a new and challenging task, that is, to attain an unbiased and thorough understanding of their fellow creatures from different cultures and civilisations.
Though cross-cultural contact on a personal basis is direct and authentic, it often proves insufficient and prejudiced. To reach an overall cross-cultural understanding in perspective, more attention should be given to comparative studies that attempt to spell out the similarities and differences within certain aspects of two or more cultures and therefore provide valuable references for harmonious cross-cultural interactions. Among this rather new branch of studies is comparative literature. It aims to bridge the gaps between cultures, present a holistic social panorama within a cultural frame and reveal, at the same time, the percepts and attitudes writers derive from their respective civilisations through deliberate descriptions of human life at different depths, from various angles and within many timespans, from a single moment to a historically significant period.
In spite of the fact that no two individuals are identical, there is still something which is common to mankind in general. Human relationships, for instance, especially the relationship between man and woman, comprise one vital part of the common core of human life. However personal it is or seems to be, an intersexual relationship is nonetheless not completely a personal matter as it is often shaped and curbed, to various extents, by the specific cultural beliefs, social customs and everyday conventions those concerned are exposed to. Such influences are often reflected in attitudes towards, expectations of, and participation in the kind of relationships one is after. This particular nature of an intersexual relationship offers a lasting theme in the literary world and holds always, a fascination for its readers, young and old, male and female.
In the modern literary field of both China and England, Zhang Henshui and D.H. Lawrence were generally considered writers committed to the exploration of intersexual relationships, both in the physical and spiritual sense. Given all the differences in their treatment of love between men and women, they can both be seen to be pioneers, venturing into this kingdom of human life that is traditionally marked as a prohibited zone and challenging the customary and accepted ideas, even among their contemporaries. A comparative study of these two writers will, quite certainly, lead to a better understanding of the human psyche of both Chinese and English peoples in the first half of the century and thus bridge some gaps between two of the most important cultures of the world. Unfortunately, no significant work has yet been done [as far as I know], in the afore-mentioned study.
The present study tries to examine three main aspects of the intersexual relationships revealed in the fictions of Zhang Henshui and D.H. Lawrence: the role of flesh, the role of spirit and the ideal love that incorporates flesh and spirit. To provide the necessary background, Chapter I briefly examines the similarities and differences in the life and career of both writers as well as the burning issues of their time in regard to intersexual relationships. Chapter II is a deliberate study of the various patterns of human pursuit of flesh that culminates in failure as depicted in Zhang's Historical Romance of the Imperial City and Lawrence's Sons and Lovers. Chapter III traces the harm caused by an over-conscious pursuit of spiritual relationship between man and woman that deliberately excludes the flesh. Though such a pursuit of love may seem alluring to certain people, the result often turns out to be even more pathetic than the failure of the flesh. Chapter IV aims to explore, first, the ideal intersexual relationships in the authors' mind and the calling of the authors' time. Then, due attention is paid to the different ideals presented in Full Blossom in Frost and Women in Love. The Conclusion attempts to sum up the similarities and differences between the two writers and suggests possibilities for further research.
Since no one has ever brought these two writers together, there is little guidance to rely on in this study -- a fact that might contribute its originality but certainly hinders it from perfection. Instead of serving as an exhaustive study, this thesis should perhaps be regarded as a pilot exploration in its simplest form. It is primarily aimed at examining whether there are shared concerns in human life in different cultures; to examine the different approaches adopted in dealing with these shared concerns and to analyse the underlying reasons behind these. It is also hoped that the present study will inspire others to engage in further research along similar lines.
Though cross-cultural contact on a personal basis is direct and authentic, it often proves insufficient and prejudiced. To reach an overall cross-cultural understanding in perspective, more attention should be given to comparative studies that attempt to spell out the similarities and differences within certain aspects of two or more cultures and therefore provide valuable references for harmonious cross-cultural interactions. Among this rather new branch of studies is comparative literature. It aims to bridge the gaps between cultures, present a holistic social panorama within a cultural frame and reveal, at the same time, the percepts and attitudes writers derive from their respective civilisations through deliberate descriptions of human life at different depths, from various angles and within many timespans, from a single moment to a historically significant period.
In spite of the fact that no two individuals are identical, there is still something which is common to mankind in general. Human relationships, for instance, especially the relationship between man and woman, comprise one vital part of the common core of human life. However personal it is or seems to be, an intersexual relationship is nonetheless not completely a personal matter as it is often shaped and curbed, to various extents, by the specific cultural beliefs, social customs and everyday conventions those concerned are exposed to. Such influences are often reflected in attitudes towards, expectations of, and participation in the kind of relationships one is after. This particular nature of an intersexual relationship offers a lasting theme in the literary world and holds always, a fascination for its readers, young and old, male and female.
In the modern literary field of both China and England, Zhang Henshui and D.H. Lawrence were generally considered writers committed to the exploration of intersexual relationships, both in the physical and spiritual sense. Given all the differences in their treatment of love between men and women, they can both be seen to be pioneers, venturing into this kingdom of human life that is traditionally marked as a prohibited zone and challenging the customary and accepted ideas, even among their contemporaries. A comparative study of these two writers will, quite certainly, lead to a better understanding of the human psyche of both Chinese and English peoples in the first half of the century and thus bridge some gaps between two of the most important cultures of the world. Unfortunately, no significant work has yet been done [as far as I know], in the afore-mentioned study.
The present study tries to examine three main aspects of the intersexual relationships revealed in the fictions of Zhang Henshui and D.H. Lawrence: the role of flesh, the role of spirit and the ideal love that incorporates flesh and spirit. To provide the necessary background, Chapter I briefly examines the similarities and differences in the life and career of both writers as well as the burning issues of their time in regard to intersexual relationships. Chapter II is a deliberate study of the various patterns of human pursuit of flesh that culminates in failure as depicted in Zhang's Historical Romance of the Imperial City and Lawrence's Sons and Lovers. Chapter III traces the harm caused by an over-conscious pursuit of spiritual relationship between man and woman that deliberately excludes the flesh. Though such a pursuit of love may seem alluring to certain people, the result often turns out to be even more pathetic than the failure of the flesh. Chapter IV aims to explore, first, the ideal intersexual relationships in the authors' mind and the calling of the authors' time. Then, due attention is paid to the different ideals presented in Full Blossom in Frost and Women in Love. The Conclusion attempts to sum up the similarities and differences between the two writers and suggests possibilities for further research.
Since no one has ever brought these two writers together, there is little guidance to rely on in this study -- a fact that might contribute its originality but certainly hinders it from perfection. Instead of serving as an exhaustive study, this thesis should perhaps be regarded as a pilot exploration in its simplest form. It is primarily aimed at examining whether there are shared concerns in human life in different cultures; to examine the different approaches adopted in dealing with these shared concerns and to analyse the underlying reasons behind these. It is also hoped that the present study will inspire others to engage in further research along similar lines.
Date Issued
1997
Call Number
PN51 Wan
Date Submitted
1997