Lawrence and Nature: a Synesthetic Empathy

Abstract

The synesthesia is perhaps one of the most significant stylistic recourses used by D. H. Lawrence when he undertakes the task of resolving in a literary fashion one of his favourite topics: the physical and spiritual communion between his characters and Nature. With its use, Lawrence manages, by mixing and confusing the different sensorial perceptions, to enhance the discursive level and the dramatic tension, adding new deep and symbolic tonalities to the narrative momentum. In this paper, we study through selected passages from Sons and Lovers the nature of Lawrence's synesthesias, seen from a linguistic and literary perspective. We also observe up to what point he remains faithful to a "normative" tradition or lets his creativity manifest freely when building them.