Analysis Of Sons And Lovers By D. H. Lawrence

In the novel Sons and Lovers, D. H. Lawrence discusses life for a coal miner’s family in England. The effect that the parents had on their children’s upbringing is described in this story. The mother has nothing except what she can accomplish through her sons. However, the influence she ultimately has on their lives forces them to form some decisions that they necessarily do not agree with. The fact that they choose what she wants over want they want for themselves is astonishing. Their happiness never seems to be her first priority unless their happiness lies in what she wants for them. Mrs. Morel had a fast whirlwind marriage full of passion that did not last. When it started failing and she was seeing Walter Morel for who and what he

Morel expects her sons to hold her above all else. She sees all her dreams coming true by living through them and all their achievements are by virtue of her. Mrs. Morel’s cockiness is evident when Lawrence writes “All the things that men do—the decent things—William did. He flew like the wind…..The boy only ran for her” (45).The implication is that he saves all his greatness for her and as a result of her. Lawrence also described her as taking William’s first prize award as a tribute. “She took it like a queen” (45). It is also like Mrs. Morel never wanted her son to leave her. “He gave all his money to his mother. When he earned fourteen shillings a week, she gave him back two for himself” (45). It would be nearly impossible to save any money for his own at that rate. As his stature in the town increases, William’s parents are extremely pleased. Then he receives a job offer which sadness his mother. “She loved him so much. More than that she hoped in him so much. Almost she lived by

Morel feverishly clings to Paul as a way of life. Consequently, he is the only one she can depend on for money. Unfortunately, even though she is pleased to be the mother of sons, she rarely pays much attention to Paul until after William is gone. One could assume this would be the direction of the story all along according to when “She felt as if the navel string that had connected his frail little body with hers had not been broken.” (32) Even before she truly realized it Mrs. Morel had a special connection with Paul. Maybe it was in that she was afraid that deep down that baby Paul knew she did not want him or remorse for the feelings. She stated more than once of a peculiar look in his eyes. Paul takes close to all of her smothering. He is her lifeline essentially. They spend every day sharing their life stories when they are apart. Paul even starts to show such strong affections toward his mother. In this day and age, it would seem near perverse. Such as when he refers to her as “my pigeon,’ or “my love.” At one time Paul asks of his mother in reference to Arthur, “Are you fearfully fond of him?” (161). He fears that he may love her youngest son the more than he. This shows his desperation for her all of her love just as she needs his. This is probably why he has such conflicting issues with finding love for himself with another woman. Lawrence later describes how at times he can love and hate Miriam. He usually hates her after he