Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover: A Critique of Capitalism

Abstract

Human history has witnessed a series of significant changes in the stream of socio-political transformations. These transformations are seen to have occurred simultaneously with the change in the modes of social production. The twentieth century society wheels itself on the ground of towering industrial capitalism. The principle of its mechanism has reduced the humanity to a vast mass of commodities, thus no longer allowing the realization of human essence. The lust for money and material prosperity has crushed the instinctive side of man. Man can no longer realize his individuality, and consequently he is shattered by the sense of alienation. Being dissatisfied with the dehumanizing effects of industrial capitalism, Lawrence creates the characters like Connie and Mellors, Clifford's gamekeeper and sets them in opposition to Clifford, who represents a true devotee of capitalism. Connie’s marital failure with physically and emotionally paralyzed Clifford transforms into a successful love between Mellors and Connie and her consequent pregnancy. Clifford’s disintegrated life, Connie’s defiance of existing social norm of class barrier, Mellors’ disgust to the world of Clifford and Connie’s pregnancy out of her love with Mellors are all suggestive of Lawrence’s sharp criticism of capitalism in the novel.