The Day The World Ended

SONS AND LOVERS

Relationships have, and always will contain many different levels. These levels can produce somewhat of a state of confusion in ones life, and have many different impacts. But when a change and a transformation takes place, one can reach a point of clarity and a new found direction. In the comparison of two novels, we see several relationships portrayed along these lines, and how the two main characters transform to find what is most sacred to them. Paul Morel is the main character in D.H. Lawrence's novel 'Sons and Lovers.'; The story charts his early life from when his parents married, and the subsequent birth of their four children. During this time, the three women who have the greatest impact on Paul's life are his mother, Miriam and Clara. Each woman displays a definite influence on Paul, but all three are shown in different times of his life. This influence goes on to shape the life of Paul. In conjunction to this, the story of 'The French Lieutenants Woman'; and the main character in that story, Charles, will be compared showing similarities and differences of the relationships of women in his life.
In the story 'Sons and Lovers'; from the very beginning their was a connection between Paul and his mother. It was seen that a bond was formed between the two of them, but it wasn't very strong in the beginning. The strong mother –son bond was between Paul's older brother William and his mother. Paul appeared to be jealous of this, and it wasn't until William moved away that Paul's mother noticed him. William was offered a job in London, the 'big city'; in comparison to their town. When he left, it was almost like a part of his mother had left too. She was crushed, very upset, and very unstable. It wasn't until Paul came down with an illness, and was on the boundaries of death when his mother finally really took notice in him. Paul was then nursed back to himself, and shared this same type of bond that William had shared with his mother. Mrs. Morel (the mother) lived for her children, especially William, but then Paul. As Paul grew older, his mother never suffered alone, and neither did he. He was always there for her when she needed him, she told him all her problems, and he listened as best he could, as a child and as a man.