“Shadow” Symbolism in David Herbert Lawrence's Poetry

The presented article examines the symbolic significance of the “shadow” across a range of cultural and literary contexts, paying particular attention to the evolution of this symbol in English-language poetry and its psychological and philosophical interpretations. The research begins with an analysis of the historical development of the shadow symbol in English poetry, specifically in the works of Shakespeare, the Romantic poets (Blake, Shelley, Keats, Coleridge, Wordsworth), Victorian era authors (Tennyson, Browning, Rossetti), and the Modernists (Eliot, Yeats, Plath).

The article pays special attention to the concept of shadow in the context of psychoanalytic theory, examining Freud's and Jung's approaches to interpreting shadow as a symbol of the unconscious, as well as the application of this concept in contemporary psychology.

From a biblical perspective, the research reflects the religious symbolism of shadow, particularly the well-known phrase “the valley of the shadow of death” and other biblical contexts where shadow serves as a symbol of divine protection, spiritual darkness, and the transience of human existence.

The main part of the article is devoted to a microanalysis of shadow symbolism in D.H. Lawrence's poetry. The poems “Shadows”, “In the Dark”, “A Young Wife” and “In a Boat” are examined in detail. The research reveals that for Lawrence, shadow is a complex ontological concept that unites physical and metaphysical dimensions, reflects his opposition to industrial rationalism, and represents the embodiment of intuitive, subconscious forces. According to the research, Lawrence's concept of shadow differs from traditional negative interpretations – it is often presented as a vital, creative force, a source of transformation and renewal.