析-花-在作品《兒子與情人》中的象征意義-文學學士畢業(yè)論文

AbstractLawrenceisthefamousEnglishnovelistandpoetinthetwentiethcentury.InLawrence'sautobiographicalnovelSonsandLovers,theauthorappliesmanysymbols.Thehiddenimagesandsymboliclanguageshelptoillustratetheinnerpurportofthenovelandthecomplicatedandinnermostfeelingsofthecharacter.Inalargenumberofhisworks,symbolismhasbeenwidelyused.InhismasterpieceSonsandLovers,hehassuccessfullyappliedsymbolismandpresentedtheimagethroughouttheentirenovelthatflowerimagethroughoutthenovelanddifferentflowerssymbolizeadifferentpersonalitytrait.Thehero’sattitudestowardsflowersfromheroimplythedeepthemesofthenovel.Thepaperdiscussesthreeheroinesandthreedifferentkindsofflowerssymbolizethedevelopmentoftheplotinnovels.Thispapertriestoanalyzethesymbolicmeaningsof‘Flowers’inSonsAndLovers.KeyWords:D.H.Lawrence;SonsandLovers;flowers;symbolism摘要勞倫斯是二十世紀著名的英國小說家與詩人，在他所創(chuàng)作的大量作品中，象征主義描寫占據(jù)了相當?shù)钠Ｔ诖碜鳌秲鹤优c情人》中，他成功運用了這一手法，賦予了貫穿整部小說的意象“花”以深刻的象征寓意。花的意象貫穿始終，不同的花暗示不同的人物性格特征，從主人公對花的態(tài)度來暗示人物的深層心態(tài)，揭示小說的深層主題，文中對花的描寫象征了小說中的三個女主人公，暗示了小說中情節(jié)的發(fā)展。本文試從花與主人公的聯(lián)系來對作品進行解讀。關鍵詞：勞倫斯；《兒子與情人》；花；象征主義

Contents1205Abstract i15760摘要 ii117691.Introduction 128831.1BriefintroductiontoSonsandLovers 1106291.2Aimandobjectives 2100581.3Organizationofthepaper 2295812.LiteratureReview 342242.1Symbolism 3320392.1.1Definitionandclassificationofsymbolism 3211502.1.2Symbolisminotherworks 336152.2Previousstudiesonsymbolism 4157052.2.1Foreignstudiesonsymbolism 426012.2.2Domesticstudiesonsymbolism 4218143.ThesymbolicmeaningsofflowersinSonsandLovers 6237513.1WhitelilieswerereelinginthemoonlightandMr.Morel’stwistedlove 6215973.2SomberwhiteliliesandMiriam’slasttest 7106053.3WhiteroseandthesymbolofMiriam’sspirituallove 86933.4BluebellandSymbolofClara’slongingfortruelove 1024653.5IrisandSymbolofClara’ssexyfeatureandrebelliousspirit 11102434.Conclusion 12125784.1Majorfindings 12122614.2Pedagogicalimplications 12205834.3Limitationsandsuggestions 125867References 134082Acknowledgements 141.Introduction1.1BriefintroductiontoSonsandLoversDavidHerbertLawrence(1885-1930)wasoneofthemostversatileandinfluentialBritishwritersintheearlytwentiethcentury.HewasbornonSeptember11,1885inaMidland-miningvillageofEastwood,Nottingham,onwhichtheEastwoodofSonsandLoveswasmodeled.Hisfatherwasaminerandhismotherwasbettereducatedandgenteel.Laterheescapedfromtheminingworldthrougheducation.Healwayshatedthemines,andfrequentlyusedtheminhiswritingtorepresentbothdarknessandindustrialism,whichhedespisedbecausehefeltitwasscarringtheEnglishcountryside.In1914,hemarriedFriedainGermany.HediedinFrancein1930,atage44.Inhisrelativelyshortlife,heproducedmorethan50volumesofshortstories,poems,plays,essays,traveljournals,lettersand,inadditiontothenovelsforwhichheisbestknown.AfterhisdeathFriedawrote,“Whathehadseenandfeltandknownhegaveinhiswritingtohisfellowman,thesplendorofliving,thehopeofmoreandmorelifehehadgiventhem,aheroicandimmeasurablegift”.OfLawrence’smostsignificantandmostcontroversialnovels,includingSonsandLovesandLadyChatterley’sLover,thebestisprobablyTheRainbow.AnotherfamousnovelisWomeninLove.SonsandLoversisLawrence’ssemi-autobiographicalnovel,inwhichheemployedrichsymbolismtodevelophisdepiction.ThereisinitaratherrealisticrepresentationofmininglifeintheMidlands,whichtheauthorwasfamiliarwithinhischildhoodandearlymanhood,butmoresignificant,istheresemblanceofthestrongbondofmaternallovebetweenGertrudeMorelandPaulinthenovel.Tothenovelist’sownmother’sstrongholduponLawrenceandtheparallelstretchesitselftoPaul’searlyunsuccessfulloveaffairswithMiriamandClara.Freud’sinfluenceisalsoquiteobvioushere,thoughPaul’sinabilitytotearhimselfawayfromhismotherwhodefinitelysuggestsanillustrationof“Oedipuscomplex”seemsrathertohavebeenbasedonLawrence’sownexperience.Ittellsthestoryofacoalminer’sfamilywiththethirdsonPaulasthecentralcharacter.ThethreadofthestoryevolvedaroundPaul’sloveforthetwogirlsMiriamandClaraaswellashisloveforhismotherMrs.Morel.Tobespecific,thelifeoftheMorelfamilyisunhappy,tense,anduneasy.WalterMorelisaminer,heandhiswife,Gertrude,havetwochildren,WilliamandAnnie.Mrs.Moreisfullwithhandlingherhusband'stemperandcaringforthechildren.Shehatesthatshehastostayhomewiththechildrenwhileherhusbandgetstogooutandenjoyhimself(i.e.drink).Whentheirthirdchild,Paul,isborn,Mrs.Moreldoesnotreallywantthenewbaby.Afterthebirthoftheirfourthchild,Arthur,theMorelfamilyiscomplete.Mrs.Moreltransfersheraffectionsfromherhusbandtoherfirstson,William,whoisintelligentandactive.Heistheappleofhismother'seye,winningawards,doingwellinschoolandfindingjobseasily.Williamcatchespneumoniaanddies.AfterWilliam'sdeath,Mrs.MorelturnsherloveandattentiontoPaul.Paul,alwayssensitiveandemotional,getsajobatThomasJordan's,asurgicalappliancesfactoryandstrikesafriendshipwithMiriamLeviers.Mrs.MoreldoesnotlikeMiriambecauseinherviewMiriamtakesallofPaul'senergy,desire,andfeelingswithnothingleftofhimforher.AfterPaulandMiriamhavesex,hedecidesthattheyarenotgoodforeachother,andbreaksofftheirrelationship,toMiriam'sangerandbitterness.PaulheadsintoanintenselysexualrelationshipwithClara.Mrs.Morelfallsgravelyillandgrowsweakerbecauseofatumor.KnowingthatsheisprolongingherdeathtoliveforPaul,PaulandAnniecannotstandtoseetheirbelovedmotherliveinsuchpainthattheygiveheranextradosageofmorphine.Mrs.Moreldies.PaulgoestoseeMiriam.Theypondergettingmarried,butPaulconfessesthathehasneitherdesirenoranyintentionofmarryingher.Miriamdecidestowaitaslongasittakesforhimtocometoher.Paulreturnshome,thinkingaboutthebondheshareswithhismother.Theirloveisstillaliveinhim,eventhoughshehasdied.1.2AimandobjectivesThisstudyaimstolearntheconnotationandfeaturesofsymbolism.Ingeneral,symbolismcannotonlyinterpretthewriter’sthoughtbutalsoenrichtheauthor’sworldofartinthenovel.Byusingsymbolism,hedepictedchangesinnatureandthesubtleemotionalchangesofthecharacters.Thesedescriptionsrevealthecharacters’mindandtouchupontheiremotionanddesire.Symbolscanalwaysinterpretthewriters’thoughtandenrichtheauthor’sworldofideasandartinthenovel.1.3OrganizationofthepaperThispaperisdividedintofourchapters.Chapteroneservesasanoverallintroductiontothenovelandaimofthestudy.Chaptertwoisanoverviewofsymbolismandstudiesrelatedtopreviousstudiesonsymbolismincludingforeignstudiesanddomesticstudies.ChapterthreedescribesthesymbolicmeaningsofflowersinSonsandLovers.Finally,Chapterfourisdevotedtotheconclusioninwhichwewillputforwardthemajorfindingsandimplicationsofthestudy.

2.LiteratureReviewInthischapter,wewillbrieflyintroduceanoverviewofsymbolismandstudiesconcerningsymbolismandpreviousstudiesonsymbolism.2.1Symbolism2.1.1DefinitionandclassificationofsymbolismSymbolismwasalatenineteenth-centuryartmovementofFrench,RussianandBelgianorigininpoetryandotherarts.Inliterature,thestylehaditsbeginningswiththepublicationLesFleurdumal(1857:378)byCharlesBaudelaire.AccordingtoOxford(2004:1792),symbolis“person,anobject,anevent,etc.thatrepresentsamoregeneralqualityorsituation”,e.g.:WhitehasalwaysbeenasymbolofpurityinWesterncultures.Thedoveissymbolicofpeace.Symbolismis“theuseofsymbolstorepresentideas,especiallyinartandliterature”.Humanmindisfunctioningsymbolicallywhensomecomponentsofitsexperienceelicitconsciousness,beliefs,emotions,andusages,respectingothercomponentsofitsexperience.Theformersetofcomponentsisthe‘symbols,’andthelattersetconstitutesthe‘meaning’ofthesymbols.AccordingtoVivas,the“constitutivesymbol”is“considerablymorethanamatterofintendedmeaning”(D.H.Lawrence1913:274).Hedefinesitfurtheras“acreativesynthesisofempiricalmatterwhichmanifestsitselfindramaticandmoraltermsandwhichfunctionscategorically”(D.H.Lawrence1913:275).Alfred,NorthWhitehead(1927)thinks“differentepochsofcivilizationdisclosegreatdifferencesintheirattitudetowardssymbolism.Architecturewassymbolical,ceremonialwassymbolical,heraldrywassymbolical.Therearedeepertypesofsymbolism,inasenseartificial,andyetsuchthatwecouldnotgetonwithoutthem.Language,writtenorspoken,issuchasymbolism.Themeresoundofaword,oritsshapeonpaper,isindifferent.Thewordisasymbol,anditsmeaningisconstitutedbytheideas,images,andemotions,whichitraisesinthemindofthehearer.Thereisalsoanothersortoflanguage,purelyawrittenlanguage,whichisconstitutedbythemathematicalsymbolsofthescienceofalgebra”.2.1.2SymbolisminotherworksInrecentdecadestherewerelargeamountsofresearchachievementsaboutthestudiesregardingsymbolismbothintheforeigncountriesandinChina.Forinstance,amongtheforeignstudies,HenryJames(1879),studiessymbolsinDaisyMillerwhoareDaisyherselfandheryoungerbrother,Randolph.DaisyisoftenseenasrepresentingAmerica:sheisyoung,fresh,ingenuous,clueless,na?ve,innocent,wellmeaning,self-centered,untaught,scornfulofconvention,unawareofsocialdistinctions,utterlylackinginanysenseofpropriety.CharlesFeidelson(1953)triestoreininthemassofcontradictionthatis“symbolism”bydescribingwhatitisnot.NathanielHawthorne(1850)studies‘A’inTheScarletLetterisasymbolwithmanydeepmeanings.ToPuritans,itsignifiesadultery,amarkofshamefulsin;Tothepeoplearoundher,itstandsfor“Ability”,“Art”,“Actsofapostles”,andeven“Angle”.ToHesterherself,itstandsforher“Attention,Agony”andstrugglesheunderwent.InChina,SuYimei(2007)publishedanarticle“TheEffectiveUseofSymbolism:anAppreciationofSymbolsinSonsandLovers”,inwhichsheanalyzessuchsymbolsassunset,moonlight,deadbirds,horseandpapertodevelopthecharacter,theplotandthethemeofthenovel.2.2Previousstudiesonsymbolism2.2.1ForeignstudiesonsymbolismTherearemultitudesofwesternwritersrelatingtheirbookstoreligionandsex,butlittleattentiononthesymbolicmeanings.Spilka,Mark(1959)says“Inthenovelsonsandlovers,thefloweristhemostimportant‘vitalforces’.HenryJames(1879),studiessymbolsinDaisyMiller.CharlesFeidelson(1953)triestoreininthemassofcontradictionthatis“symbolism”bydescribingwhatitisnot.AccordingtoAlfredKuttnerinterpretedthenovelasthestruggleofamantofreehimselffromallegiancetohismotherandtransferhislovetoawomanoutsidethefamilycircle.Lawrence’saccountstressedthemother’sdevotiontohersons,WilliamandPaul,ascompensationforthelackofsatisfactioninhermarriage.FrederickJohnHoffman,HarryThorntonMoore(1953),inhisTheachievementofD.H.Lawrence,discussedtheuniquelyLawrenciumrhythmofthebook,arhythmoftensionandrelaxationinthecentralrelationshipswhich,Betskypointedout,wastobecometheauthor’stypicalsubstituteforconversationalplotdevelopment.Leavis(1953),thinkthatbrilliantthoughSonsandLoveswas,itdidnotexplorethesocialconditionofcontemporaryEnglandinenoughdepthtorivaltheachievementofthelaterWomeninLovebutdevelopedthesubordinatethemeofSonsandLovesandmighthaveexploredtheplightofhisEnglishcivilization.2.2.2DomesticstudiesonsymbolismSonsandLoveshasgainedgreatcriticalconcernnotonlyinthewesterncountries,butalsoinChinaduringthelate20’softhe20th.AlargenumberofChinesewritersortranslatorscommentonSonsandLoves.LuoTing(1996),currentpresidentofHumanWomen’sUniversity,wroteStudyonLawrence,includingLawrence’slife,WorksandThought.Mostofthedomesticstudiesrelatedtosymbolism,arefoundinprofessionalliterature.JiangJiaguo(2003)said,“Itisapaleandhalf-bakedyellowmoonwhichmadetheskydimandviolet,whichshowusafeelingofbeingsomberanddepressed.ItalsosymbolizesthehazelifeofPaul.”AndotherslikeYiPusheng(1938)usestheinjuryduckssymbolizetheMr.YaandhissonthesituationthatcannotrecoverafterasetbackbyWillieandthelifeattitudeofmediocrecomplacent.Heusedthesymbolofwildduckstojudgethemenaroundhim.SuYimei(2007)publishedanarticle“TheEffectiveUseofSymbolism:anAppreciationofSymbolsinSonsandLovers”,inwhichsheanalyzessuchsymbolsassunset,moonlight,deadbirds,horseandpapertodevelopthecharacter,theplotandthethemeofthenovel.WangWenxia(2009)thinksthatLawrenceusessymbolismtoformtheimportantcontentofthestorybymeansofthereflectionsofevents,scenesandmoods.Henotonlyusesagreatnumberofvividanddramaticsymbolstorevelthedelicateinnerfeelingsandthecomplexmentalityofthecharacters,butalsoparallelsthesymbolsandthedescriptiontoreachtheeffectofcreatingatmosphere,developingtheplotandthetheme.Furthermore,heusesrichimaginationtoobscurethesymbols,makingthesymbolsswingingbetweentherealityandthedream,thustohaveconcisenessandproducerichsymbolism.PanHongsheng(2006)studiesthesymbolicmeaningsofflowersandmooninSonandLovers,hethinksLawrenceusesthesesymbolstorevealthecharacters’complicatedthoughts,aswellasfeelings,andfurtheranalyzestheirinnerpsychologicalactivitiesandmakeshislimitedwordsembodyrichandcolorfulmeanings.Fromtheliteraturementionedabove,wecanseethatthepreviousstudiesconcentratedonlycoveredthenovels,novellasandpoemsofLawrence.Somepapersfocusonthestudyofsomefeatureofonenovel,suchasthespirituallove,senseandsensibility,Oedipuscomplex,thesocialbackground,modernismanditsinfluenceinSonsandLovers.However,fewpeopleconcernsonthesymbolicmeaningsofnatureandsymbolicmeaningsbetweentheheroesandnature.Duetothisreason,weregardanempiricalstudyonthesymbolicmeaningsoftheflowersinrelationtothethreemainfemalecharactersinthenovel:Mrs.More,MiriamandClara.

3.ThesymbolicmeaningsofflowersinSonsandLoversLawrenceisthefamousEnglishnovelistandpoetintwentiethcentury.InLawrence’sworks,symbolismisemployedformanytopics.TheseareflowersofimagethroughoutthisnovelinSonsandLoversanddifferentflowerssuggestdifferentpersonality.Fromtheattitudetowardstheheroofnovel,wecanseethattheinnermindpeoplerevealadeepthemeofthenovel.Thedescriptionsofflowersymbolizethreeheroinesofnovelandsuggestthedevelopmentoftheplotsinthenovel.Thischapterattemptstounderstandtheessenceofthisnovelandappreciateitssymboliccharacteristicsbyanalyzingandinterpretingthesymbolicmeaningsoftheflowersinrelationtothethreemainfemalecharactersinthenovel:Mrs.More,MiriamandClara.3.1WhitelilieswerereelinginthemoonlightandMr.Morel’stwistedloveAsSpilka,Mark(1959)says“InthenovelSonsandLovers,thefloweristhemostimportant‘vitalforces’andtheyexistinthewholenovel.Throughtheattitudetowardtheflower,or,moreaccurately,throughtherelationsbetweenthem,Paulandhisthreebelovedwomenwerejudgedagainandagain.”ThenameoflilyusedtocommemoratetheVirginMary,fromancienttimes,theVirginMaryisregardedasthesymbolofpuritybyChristian,andsothelanguageoflilyispurity.Butthedifferentcolorssymbolizedifferentmeanings.Thepinklilyisthesymbolofdreamland,gentleandsweet;thewhitelilyisthesymbolofpurity,majesty,andmutuality.Meanwhile,indifferentcountrieslilyalsohasdifferentsymbolicmeanings.Forinstance,inFrance,lilyisasymbolofancientroyalrights;inBritain,whitelilysymbolizespurity;inCanada,whitelilyisonlyusedinthefuneral.Inthisnovel,thedescriptionsoflilieshavemainlyappearedtwice:Firstly,onthefirstChapterofthefirstFilm;Secondly,ontheelevenChapterofthesecondFilm.Althoughthelocationisthesame,thatisthegardenofMrs.More,thetimeisdifferentandthecharacterisalsodifferent.TheformerisMrs.MoreandthelatterishissonPaul.Andalsoitshowsdifferentsymbolicmeaningsoflily.Withthegleamsandspotlesslywhiteliliesinthemoonlight,LawrencehasdeeplydescribedthecomplexpersonalityandmentalityofMrs.More,sothatreaderscandeeplyknowthatwell.Theliliessymbolizeakindofextraordinarystrengthatfirst.Abrightmoonlightnight,Mrs.Morewhoarepregnantandalreadyhastwochildren,shewasoutofthehousebyhisdrunkhusband.Mrs.Morewandersinthegardenwithacombinationofinjustice.Atthismoment,shewasattractedbythestrongfragrance.Innovel,asD.H.Lawrence(1913:44)said:Shebecameawareofsomethingabouther.Withaneffortsherousedherselftoseewhatitwasthatpenetratedherconsciousness.Thetallwhitelilieswerereelinginthemoonlight,andtheairwaschargedwiththeirperfume,aswithapresence.Mrs.Morelgaspedslightlyinfear.Shetouchedthebig,pallidflowersontheirpetals,andthenshivered.Theyseemedtobestretchinginthemoonlight.Sheputherhandintoonewhitebin:thegoldscarcelyshowedonherfingersbymoonlight.Shebentdowntolookatthebibfulofyellowpollen;butitonlyappeareddusky.Thenshedrankadeepdraughtofthescent.Italmostmadeherdizzy.Symbolismattempttoindicatemorethanexplainthetruthoflife.Itisnotthenaturesurfaceofdailylifeincludinglaughter,anger,sorrowandhappiness,buttheinnerelusivethings,alsotheonlytruthhiddenbehindtheordinarythings.Atthistime,thesymbolicmeaningsoflilieshavethefollowingaspects:Firstly,liliessymbolizeanimageofyounganddynamicpregnantMrs.More;Secondly,thetallwhiteliliesthatwerereelinginthemoonlightsymbolizethelifeofMrs.Morewhoissufferingmuchanduncertain.Thirdly,liliesarethesymbolofpurity,indicatingMrs.MorehasastrongdependenceonthePaulwhoisstillinhismother’swomb.Mrs.Morewasfearedbythemoonlight.LiliesmadeMrs.Moregloomandforgetpainorevenher.Finally,sheintegratedintothenatureanddisappearedinthemoonlight.Meantime,theloveforherhusbandwasdisappearing,indicatesthattherelationshipbetweenherandthebabyinherwombbeginstochange.3.2SomberwhiteliliesandMiriam’slasttestLiliesreappearedontheeleventhChapterofthesecondFilm.ThischapterstatesPaultowardsMiriam’slasttest.Theyhaveknowneachotherforseveryearsbutstilldidn’tbecometruelovers.Paulloveshismotherdeeplybutthiskindofloveisasexual.GrowingPaulisbeingtorturedbythedesireofsex,soheneedsarealloverwholoveseachotherreally.AlthoughheisattractedbyMiriambutsheisnottheidealone.Paulmakesthefinaldecisioninthemoonlightgarden,butthatnightisnolongerbrightest.Lawrence(1913:553-554)states:Itgrewlate.Throughtheopendoor,stealthily,camethescentofMadonnalilies,almostasifitwereprowlingabroad.Suddenlyhegotupandwentoutofdoors.Thebeautyofthenightmadehimwanttoshout.Ahalfmoon,duskygold,wassinkingbehindtheblacksycamoreattheendofthegarden,makingtheskydullpurplewithitsglow.Nearer,adimwhitefenceoflilieswentacrossthegarden,andtheairallroundseemedtostirwithscent,asifitwerealive.Hewentacrossthebedofpinks,whosekeenperfumecamesharplyacrosstherocking,heavyscentofthelilies,andstoodalongsidethewhitebarrierofflowers.Theyflaggedallloose,asiftheywerepanting.Thescentmadehimdrunk.Hewentdowntothefieldtowatchthemoonsinkunder.JiangJiaguo(2003:116)says“Itisapaleandhalf-bakedyellowmoonthatmakestheskydimandvioletthatgivesusafeelingofbeingsomberanddepressed.ItalsosymbolizesthehazelifeofPaul.”Paulwasinaquietandsombermood.Inthis,twocolorsofliliesappear:oneiswhitelily,whichfullofbouquetandsymbolizestheelves;anotherispinklily,whichhasstrongbouquetandsymbolizesdominanceandunfairness.ThesetwocolorsofliliesseparatelyrepresentMrs.MoreandMiriamwhobothhavestrongcommandeeredtoPaul.TheclashbetweentwokindsofbouquetssymbolizesthefiercestrugglethatfightforPaulbetweenMrs.MoreandMiriam.WhenPaulgoingacrossthesetwokindsofflowersimplieshehasalreadygivenupthem,andalsoindicateshisloveoflifehaseventuallygoneoutofMrs.MoreandMiriam’sinfluence.Tobespecific,MiriamisPaul’sfirstgirlfriend.Sheispureandelegant,reservedandconcerted.Sheisgreatlyinfluencedbyreligionwhichmakesherputmuchstressonspirit.Miriamlovesflowers,forher,theflowersareastrangepower.Shehuggedtheflowers,breathingthefragranceofflowers.Itseems“shefallsinlovewithflowers”.TheattitudetoflowerssymbolizestheattitudetoPaul.PaulthinksthatMiriamactuallydoesn’tneedhimbuthisspirit.ThelovebetweenMiriamandPaulisdestinedtofailure,becausePaulisinpursuitofthebaptismofpassion,andMiriamjustwantstoseizehissoul.3.3WhiteroseandthesymbolofMiriam’sspiritualloveThewhiteroseisthesymbolofinnocenceandpurity.Inthenovel,whenLawrenceportrayedMiriamLeviers,heusedmanydifferentflowerstoshowMiriam’scharacter.ButheusedwhiterosedirectlytoshowMiriam’spureemotion,andthewhiteroseisthemostfavoriteflowertoMiriam,tosomeextent,MiriamissopureandinnocentthatherloveforPaulissomewhatspiritual.PaulandMiriammetatthefirsttimewhenshewasonly14.Whiteroseswithpinkpistilsappearedatthattime,whichPauldescribedasgirl’sshyface.Obviously,LawrenceusedwhiterosestosymbolizeMiriam’slovelinessandpurity.Innovel,Lawrence(1913:299-300)states:Itwasverystill.Thetreewastallandstraggling.Ithadthrownitsbriersoverahawthorn-bush,anditslongstreamerstrailedthick,rightdowntothegrass,splashingthedarknesseverywherewithgreatspiltstars,purewhite.Inbossesofivoryandinlargesplashedstarstherosesgleamedonthedarknessoffoliageandstemsandgrass.PaulandMiriamstoodclosetogether,silent,andwatched.Pointafterpointthesteadyrosesshoneouttothem,seemingtokindlesomethingintheirsouls.Theduskcamelikesmokearound,andstilldidnotputouttheroses.Thisscenehasaprofoundsymbolicmeaningintheirrelationship.AsLackStewartsaid,“Miriamandthesesacredflowerswereone.WhatsheshowedtoPaulwasnotonlyroses,butalsoherloveforhim.Theblossomofroseswasthesilentpouring-outofherloveforPaul.”However,actuallyMiriam’slovetoPaulhasnorelationwithfleshbutwithspirit.D.H.Lawrence(1913:299-300)writes,“PaullookedintoMiriam’seyes.Shewaspaleandexpectantwithwonder,herlipswereparted,andherdarkeyeslayopentohim.Hislookseemedtotraveldownintoher.Hersoulquivered.Itwasthecommunionshewanted.Heturnedaside,asifpained.Heturnedtothebush…Shelookedatherroses.Theywerewhite,someincurvedandholy,othersexpandedinanecstasy.Thetreewasdarkasashadow.Sheliftedherhandimpulsivelytotheflowers;shewentforwardandtouchedtheminworship…Therewasacoolscentofivoryroses—awhite,virginscent.Somethingmadehimfeelanxiousandimprisoned.Thetwowalkedinsilence.”AsSpilka,Mark(1959)says“ShelovesPaulasshelovesflowers,sheadmireshimassheworshipsflowers,whichmadePaulchocking.ThewaytoclosetonaturalofMiriamisdestinedtofailure,whichisthekeytosplittheirlove.”O(jiān)bviously,theopinionofSpilka,Markisnotcomplete.TherealreasonofsplittingtheirloveisMiriamherself.MiriamisnotreallylovePaulbutthespiritualsatisfactionbeforeflowerswiththehelpofPaul’spresence.Theirmainstrugglewillbeaboutsex,forthem,andespeciallyforMiriam,thestruggleisaspiritualsubstituteforsexuality.Inaddition,Miriamistoospiritual,tooabstract;sheshrinksawayfromphysicalreality.ThewhiterosesymbolizestheloveofMiriamthatisfilledwithreligiouspractice,andthisloveforPaulandher,isjustonthewater,themirrorinflowers.“Toher,flowersappealedwithsuchstrengthsheleft;shemustmakethempartofherself.Whenshebentandbreathedaflower,itwasasifsheandtheflowerlovedeachother.”Then“Sheliftedherhandimpulsivelytotheflowers;shewentforwardandtouchedtheminworship”,shecompletelyplungingherselfintothisspiritualcommunicationwithwhiterosesandignoringtheexistenceofPaul.Miriam’sbehaviorstowardsflowersaresointimatethatotherswillengenderasensethatsheandtheflowers“l(fā)oveeachother”.WithoutconsideringPaul’sfeelingandthought,Miriamjustimmersesherselfint