In D.H. Lawrence's "Women in Love," the author reflects on the beauty and purity of nature, symbolized by elder flowers, bluebells, and butterflies. He sees these elements as indicators of true creation and transformation, contrasting them with humanity, which he believes remains stuck in its primitive state. Lawrence suggests that humans, unlike the natural world, fail to evolve beyond a caterpillar stage, indicating a stagnation that prevents them from achieving their potential.

This view leads him to characterize humanity as anti-creation, likening it to the behavior of monkeys and baboons. By invoking these comparisons, Lawrence critiques human nature and its inability to reach greater heights of existence and creativity, suggesting that, despite the potential for growth and development, people often remain ensnared in a cycle of decay and limitation.