After the release of D.H. Lawrence's compelling novel, Sons and
Lovers, which details a complicated and borderline abusive relationship
between a mother and son, many critics sought issues with the content,
accusing Lawrence of writing a shameful and incestuous novel. Amid this
criticism, Lawrence was inspired to write Fantasia of the Unconscious,
explaining the themes and topics that often find their way into his work
while defending himself against the raging criticism of Sons and
Lovers. Though Lawrence admits his bias, as well as acknowledging that
he is not a scientist nor a scholar, he supports his psychoanalytic
claims and raises concerns that had previously been unvoiced. First,
Lawrence debunks popular Freudian psychology and Oedipus theories,
mainly to defend his novel, Sons and Lovers, which was
semi-autobiographical, from the claims that the mother and son depicted
in the novel had a sexual relationship. Lawrence continues to analyze
social practices and expectations of marriage, raising children,
education, and political action. He challenged the very idea of self,
which is a cornerstone of Western culture. Furthermore, Lawrence
articulates the mental struggles that exists between emotional and
intellectual identities, discussing the polarity of each and the cases
in which they intersect, causing a turmoil of contradiction. Though he
is not trained in the science, D.H. Lawrence spent a lifetime writing
about human observations that others found too grotesque or taboo to
acknowledge, allowing Lawrence to have a certain expertise on such
issues. With psychoanalytic theory, Lawrence supports his views,
theories, and philosophies that often invited controversy in the
literary and social realm. With poem-like prose and abstract ideas, D.H.
Lawrence proposes theories that surprises and compels readers. Described
as being ahead of its time, Fantasia of the Unconscious introduces
ideas that can be examined in practice in modern society. With insight
on topics of education, marriage, and social norms, Fantasia of the
Unconscious is an illuminating guide to D.H. Lawrence's other works.
This edition of Fantasia of the Unconscious is now presented in an
easy-to-read font and features a new, eye-catching cover design to cater
to contemporary readers.
