In
his essay, “Why the Novel Matters”
published posthumously in a
collection called “Phoenix” in 1936, D.H. Lawrence has compared and discussed
the superiority of novel over Religion, Philosophy, Science, and Poetry. In
addition to this, he has also expressed his thoughts regarding the conventional
ideas about the division of man into body and soul or mind.
In his essay, he
has also given vent to his detestation for the superstitions and age-old beliefs
which are deceptive which can be observed in his most autobiographical novel, "Sons and Lovers", and "Women in Love".
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| Why the Novel Matters-Summary |
Lawrence is of the opinion that
people give utmost importance to the soul and pay no attention to the body. Lawrence
sees no difference between his hand and brain. He thinks that both his hand and
brain hold life; and they both can feel the universe; and learn a lot about a
number of things.
Why the Novel Matters-Analysis
Lawrence that
his hand is as much ‘he’ as his brain and there is no difference between them
because they are full of life. His hands are the part of the whole {body}. But
his pen is not alive because it holds no life. It is a lifeless thing.
Lawrence thinks that it is wrong
to deem the body as merely a vessel of clay. According to Lawrence, life is of
utmost importance and nothing else. He thinks that what is full of life is the
whole being ending only at the fingertips.
Religion and the Novel:
In the arena of religion, the priest often deals with the things in
heaven, and talks about them in his sermons. But the novelist like a wise man
knows that the paradise is the palms of his hand; and the tip of his nose
because both of them are full of life. It seems that Lawrence does not believe
in anything that comes after life, and in the very idea of heaven. The parsons
and saints talk about spirit and soul and the most complex things in life which
are only a part of the life. But they are not associated with the whole {life}.
Philosophy and the Novel:
The philosopher often talks about the occult and complex things like
infinity. But when the readers read novels he comes to know that infinity is
closely associated with our life. Every person including the philosopher ends
in his own fingertips. It is wrong to treat the message of a philosopher or a
parson as more important than our living body. The message does not hold any
significance if is not associated with Life. Lawrence makes a statement that lifeless
things are subordinate to life; and they have no significance whereas things
with life are always appealing and amazing.
Philosophers, saints and
scientists are defectors and disloyal because they present shady picture of
life. They present life in parts whereas the novelists deal with the whole and present
the whole picture of life to the readers. The philosophers give utmost
importance to thoughts; and they deal with thoughts rather than emotion and
feeling.
Science and the Novel:
The scientists hold everything under his microscope and examine
things keenly and declare their view that something is ‘he’ or something else. They
are interested in only the examination of the part of the whole {Life}.
According to Lawrence, the whole is always greater and significant than the
part. The novel presents a fuller and clear picture of life than philosophy,
religion and science; hence it is superior to them.
Science,
philosophy and religion advocate laws, prohibitions and principles whereas the novel
represents the interrelation of things that man has discovered and experienced
in the course of his life. Man as a living organism is greater than spirit,
soul; or body and mind because they are merely a part of him.
Superiority of the Novel:
D.H.
Lawrence deems the novelists superior to the scientists, philosophers and
saints because he thinks that the novel is the one bright book of life; and it
has the power to appeal any man; and it represents life and everything related
to life. Lawrence opines that Bible is a novel because it is really about man’s
life and about life.
According to Lawrence, the great writers like Homer and
Shakespeare are great novelists because they pass the test of completeness and
wholeness. They covered the whole body of life in their works of art.
Lawrence
states that he has no faith in any dazzling revelation of mystery, or any supreme
word. He thinks that man can learn many things from the novel. The characters
in the novel can do nothing but live. Though it is very difficult to define
life, and it is indescribable, novels present life in detail. Novels make the
reader comprehend life in its fullness. So they are superior to religion,
philosophy and science. The novel also guides the readers about what is wrong
and right, what is good and bad.
It is possible that what is good in one
context; it may be bad in some other context. It is only in the novel that all
things mingle with each other in order to give vivid and clear idea of life
which is the whole. In addition to this, change is also a key factor of life.
The things which allure someone today may cease to attract his attention
tomorrow. Life has its own beauty in itself. It represents the wholeness of a
man and the wholeness of a woman.
Conclusion:
Thus, D.H. Lawrence has
expressed his views in defence of the novel and has described the superiority
of it in the essay over religion, philosophy, science and poetry. Harry
Blamires has aptly commented, “D.H. Lawrence blasted away with hectoring rhetoric in
aggressive defence of the novel as a crucial influence on the way we live.”
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