"A lesson on a Tortoise" and D. H. Lawrence's earliest crisis of social identity
ISSN: 0214-4808, 2171-861X
Year of publication: 1994
Issue: 7
Pages: 47-54
Type: Article
More publications in: Alicante Journal of English Studies / Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses: RAEI
Sustainable development goals
Abstract
The short story "A Lesson on a Tortoise", written by D. H. Lawrence in 1909, has traditionally been disregarded by criticism as a very minor piece of work. This paper aims to show that the story has a threefold importance: firstly as an autobiographical portrait of Lawrence's activities as a teacher in Croydon; secondly as an example of Lawrence's ability to use realistic techniques; and thirdly as a reflection of the author's crisis of social identity. The paper concentrates on the last aspect and traces the personal and intellectual facets which came to shape Lawrence's ideas on the subject.