A book for all Sons. Review on Sons and Lovers - D. H. Lawrence

Sons and Lovers ( S&L) is a ‘ bildungsroman’ (A novel whose principal subject is the moral, psychological, and intellectual development of a usually youthful main character.) Some novels which fall in this category are autobiographical like Dickens’ ‘David Copperfield’ or Joyce’s ‘Portrait of the Artist…’ . Likewise Lawrence's ‘S & L’, roughly deals with the childhood, adolescence and early adulthood of the author. It is a frank portrayal of the relationship between a domineering mother and the son, a relationship that influences every aspect of the protagonist's life. From his relationship with his father to his romantic affairs with two very different women.

The Story

Paul Morel grows up in The Bottoms, a community of coal miners in Nottinghamshire. A background almost identical to Lawrence’s own. His mother, Gertrude Coppard Morel-- & father, Walter, have had a horrible marriage. Within six months into the marriage she realized her mistake of marrying a man significantly having a different temperament than her. She fought hard to change him, to make him undertake his own responsibilities, to make him fulfill his obligations. But his sensuous nature refused to become moral and religious. The unfulfilled woman concentrates on her sons. Paul grows up in the shadow of a smothering mother. He becomes an artist and begins to have relationships with women: the innocent, old-fashioned, Miriam Leivers and Clara Dawes, married but estranged and provocatively modern. Of course, his mother's looming presence dominates his life and hence these relationships end badly.

Meanwhile, when his mother contracts cancer, Paul murders her with morphine. The novel ends with him striding confidently towards a golden future, borne up by the continuing support of her love for him.

Lawrence- A Painter

Lawrence is beautifully attentive to descriptive detail and even his characterization come up as portraits. The life of the working class and the English country side are captured to almost perfection. Something done so well by Thomas Hardy The characters are life like especially the mother, Mrs. Morel.

Freud & Oedipus Complex

'' When Lawrence began the novel he had only passing knowledge of the Freudian theories regarding the mother-son relationship(Oedipus Complex). Essentially the author was writing from experience: the psychic bond between Mrs. Morel and her son, Paul, was very similar to the bond shared by Lawrence and his mother. This bond between son and mother amounts almost to a husband and wife sort of love - without the sex - and prevents the son from ever achieving a fully satisfactory relationship with another woman because of the hold the mother has on the son's soul. It is not until the mother is dead that the son is able to begin to free himself from her hold. The novel, then, is the story of that struggle. ''

Religion

Miriam, one of Paul’s lovers is extremely religious. She possesses intense piety and religion and believes that her brothers and father are too vulgar, for they have no regard for church or God. Her love for Paul is more of a worship and she even associates God with their relationship. The rose bush is just like a parallel to their relationship.

Industrialisation

There are significant mention of industrialization all through. Mrs Morel is a bored wife of a miner. Mrs. Morel is confident that William will achieve a better profession than mining. She knows that William is capable of more than her husband ever was, and wants William to pursue all that he can achieve. The trains of transport. Paul finds a job at a company that makes surgical appliances. He is becoming part of the great industrial movement of England.

Arthur, the youngest Morel child, gets a job at Minton Pit, doing electrical work. He, as with Paul, enters the work force, doing a profession that requires skill and technical knowledge.

Drawbacks

The initial chapters are good and the descriptions are refreshing but later the book drags along. SONS AND LOVERS is not a ''feel good'' read, and Paul's inability to break free from the psychological bondage with his mother is frustrating and sometimes exasperating. Paul's obsession, frustration, and indecision about the women in his life at times seem ridiculous especially that with Miriam.

Uniqueness

It is a peep into the life of the author, D.H. Lawrence who has written a woman's thoughts better than many female writers have. May be it was his close relationship with his mother that he was able to understand women so well . Lawrence is very vulnerable here because he not only exposes himself as the son, but also inevitable as the lover.

Would recommend every mother and son to read this novel