A Portrait and the Irish history
Q. Critically comment on the autobiographical element in the novel ‘Sons and Lovers’ supporting your argument with valid textual and critical point of view.
‘Sons and Lovers’ is among one of the most autobiographical works of English Literature. D. H. Lawrence spent a troubled life in terms of relationships, economic conditions and the lack of a normal household. The novel mirrors its author in this respect. The protagonist Paul, who is in many ways a ‘counterpart’ of D. H. Lawrence, has difficulty in developing relations particularly with the opposite sex. We can see other autobiographical elements in terms of financial crisis, class difference and the infamous psychoanalytical theories at work throughout the novel. As the critic Kate Millett says:
Sons and Lovers is a great novel because it has the ring of something written from deeply felt experience. The past remembered, it conveys more of Lawrence 's own knowledge of life than anything else he wrote. (http://goo.gl/vTMhLa)
Lawrence’s intention, while beginning this novel, was to show the disastrous marriage of his parents and he has portrayed this perfectly. Mrs. Morel is the central figure in the first part of the novel and the other characters have been sidelined such as that of Miriam which represents the real Jessie Chambers. H. M. Daleski in his article ‘The Release: the First Period’ quotes Jessie. She says about Lawrence, “…the distortion he made in the presentation of Miriam in his great novel, [was] in order that the mother might triumph” (198). But with the death of his mother, we can see that the novel shifts its focus. The second part revolves around Paul and how his life was affected by the over bearing mother love just like Lawrence’s. They both suffered inner confusions because of this throughout their lives. Lawrence, like Paul, came from a low income background having a coal miner for a father and a sophisticated middle class mother. This bonding of two people from two
‘Sons and Lovers’ is among one of the most autobiographical works of English Literature. D. H. Lawrence spent a troubled life in terms of relationships, economic conditions and the lack of a normal household. The novel mirrors its author in this respect. The protagonist Paul, who is in many ways a ‘counterpart’ of D. H. Lawrence, has difficulty in developing relations particularly with the opposite sex. We can see other autobiographical elements in terms of financial crisis, class difference and the infamous psychoanalytical theories at work throughout the novel. As the critic Kate Millett says:
Sons and Lovers is a great novel because it has the ring of something written from deeply felt experience. The past remembered, it conveys more of Lawrence 's own knowledge of life than anything else he wrote. (http://goo.gl/vTMhLa)
Lawrence’s intention, while beginning this novel, was to show the disastrous marriage of his parents and he has portrayed this perfectly. Mrs. Morel is the central figure in the first part of the novel and the other characters have been sidelined such as that of Miriam which represents the real Jessie Chambers. H. M. Daleski in his article ‘The Release: the First Period’ quotes Jessie. She says about Lawrence, “…the distortion he made in the presentation of Miriam in his great novel, [was] in order that the mother might triumph” (198). But with the death of his mother, we can see that the novel shifts its focus. The second part revolves around Paul and how his life was affected by the over bearing mother love just like Lawrence’s. They both suffered inner confusions because of this throughout their lives. Lawrence, like Paul, came from a low income background having a coal miner for a father and a sophisticated middle class mother. This bonding of two people from two
Cited: D.H. Lawrence. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Oct 05 2013,