Impact of Persian Sufi Thoughts on D. H. Lawrence’s Writing

Dolat Khan

doi:10.33195/jll.v5iii.321

Abstract

In this paper, we have argued that Lawrence’s interest in what is ancient wisdom brings him in direct or indirect contact with Sufi metaphysics. This outlook on the world brings him closer to a Sufi universe in two ways. Firstly, Lawrence portrays romantic relationships in a mystical language, he presents the sensuous relationships as sacred activities through which the characters aspire to self-discovery. Lawrence`s portrayal of romantic love corresponds with the higher concept of love in Sufi literature. Secondly, this paper takes a closer look at some of Lawrence’s spiritual works including his Study of Thomas Hardy to compare his sustained argument regarding spiritualism and transcendental motifs in comparison with Sufi cosmology. Moreover, the following discussion also includes a detailed engagement with Lawrence`s correspondence and biographical information of the time when Lawrence was writing his essays and novels which contain transcendental motifs. His correspondence and biographical information suggest he had some direct exposure to Sufi literature in translation. Keywords: mysticism, divinity, holistic vision, physical and spiritual connection, cosmology, transcendental, metaphysics, ontology

Highlights

Lawrence (1885 – 1930) is one of most influential novelists of the early 20th century (Leavis, 1955), emphasising upon theme of the relationship between man and woman in his writings. He gives a sacral meaning to such relationship in the sense that instead of dealing with human relationship with ordinary language and perceptions, he resorts to a metaphysical tone in his presentation giving an ontological meaning to his characters’ interest in human relationship
In the following paragraphs we have explored metaphysical theme and transcendental motifs in Lawrences writings in comparison to Sufi literature
Two aspects of Lawrence’s writings such as his Study of Thomas Hardy are important with its relation to Sufism where we think a parallel can be rewarding and support the argument of this paper that Lawrences possible encounter with Sufi literature might have been reflected in his writings

Summary

Introduction

For most of the critics it was hard to assign a place to Lawrence’s art in the sense that he was making experiment with artistic form which would have been sufficient to consider him as a modernist writer, the difficulty was that his subject matters and beliefs were pretty close to Romantic traditions. This confusion among the early critics divided the opinion on Lawrence’s art and provoked much detractive criticism from many influential critics of English literature. The contextual evidence are collected from historical and biographical sources

Discussion

Conclusion