D.H.Lawrence Sons and Lovers
'In Sons and Lovers, Paul is not really torn between Miriam and Clara but rather between his mother and his father.' Discuss.
Sons and Lovers is considered one of the greatest English novels of the twentieth century. Centred on the lives of an English rural family, the novel explores issues relating to marriage, family, industrialism, class and sexuality. While the first sections of the book focus on the early marriage of Mr and Mrs. Morel, it is their second son Paul who comes to dominate the work. Shy, clever, sensual, and in many ways mirroring D.H.Lawrence himself, Paul is an artist brought into the world as an unwanted burden and by the end of the novel left meaningless and derelict. It is the interim, the life of Paul, that makes up the bulk of the novel. One of the defining features of Paul is the very intimate relationship he has with his mother. Its influence is inescapable, especially when it comes to his affairs with women. As the novel progresses this influence takes its toll on Paul. He in some ways moves away from his mother, asserting for himself sexual relationships and contrary views such as those on class. Yet, the effect his mother has on him remains strong throughout and even lasts beyond the grave. Paul’s battling with this, the tie with his mother on one hand and his search for independent satisfaction on the other, is indicative of his divided character as a whole. This character division is most apparent in his affairs with women. This essay will look at two such affairs. First it will look at the division Paul feels for Miriam and Clara, both separate of and in comparison to each other. It will be shown that Paul is torn specifically by each due to the nature of his relationships with them and from this it will be deduced that Paul is torn in a more general way. Secondly, Paul’s division between mother and father and how and if this is related will be examined.
Paul is not really torn between Miriam and Clara. He ultimately does not
Sons and Lovers is considered one of the greatest English novels of the twentieth century. Centred on the lives of an English rural family, the novel explores issues relating to marriage, family, industrialism, class and sexuality. While the first sections of the book focus on the early marriage of Mr and Mrs. Morel, it is their second son Paul who comes to dominate the work. Shy, clever, sensual, and in many ways mirroring D.H.Lawrence himself, Paul is an artist brought into the world as an unwanted burden and by the end of the novel left meaningless and derelict. It is the interim, the life of Paul, that makes up the bulk of the novel. One of the defining features of Paul is the very intimate relationship he has with his mother. Its influence is inescapable, especially when it comes to his affairs with women. As the novel progresses this influence takes its toll on Paul. He in some ways moves away from his mother, asserting for himself sexual relationships and contrary views such as those on class. Yet, the effect his mother has on him remains strong throughout and even lasts beyond the grave. Paul’s battling with this, the tie with his mother on one hand and his search for independent satisfaction on the other, is indicative of his divided character as a whole. This character division is most apparent in his affairs with women. This essay will look at two such affairs. First it will look at the division Paul feels for Miriam and Clara, both separate of and in comparison to each other. It will be shown that Paul is torn specifically by each due to the nature of his relationships with them and from this it will be deduced that Paul is torn in a more general way. Secondly, Paul’s division between mother and father and how and if this is related will be examined.
Paul is not really torn between Miriam and Clara. He ultimately does not
Bibliography: • D.H.Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, (Penguin Books, 1969) • http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=gay