Close Encounters: D. H. Lawrence and Italy between past and present

The present study examines the progressive formation of Lawrence’s artistic views also as a result of his travelling and coming into contact with different worlds and cultures; on the other hand, his widely dualistic frame of mind made him particularly open to call into question established principles and conventions, confronting himself with diverse realities and experiencing other cultures and different perspectives. This continuous quest and search for ideal, natural worlds different from England made him a worldwide traveller; in particular, the contact with Italy, the Mediterranean and the ancient Etruscan region in central Italy seems to inspire his art and help him define his ideology and world view. Indeed, Italy seems to Lawrence an unspoilt, vital country whose cultures (past and present) suggested possible answers to his “modernist” quest for a revitalised world.