‘Sons and Lovers’ by D.H.Lawrence is a novel that revolves around complex human relationships,focussing chiefly upon the
relationship between the sons and their
mother. The novel consists of autobiographical elements which enable the reader to get a glimpse into the life of Lawrence himself.
The opening of the book introduces us to Mr and Mrs Morel whose marital discord sets the underlying cause of the unnatural bonding between Mrs Morel and her sons William and Paul Morel.Mr morel’s untamed temper and his wife’s condemnation for his excessive drinking and idle nature create an unhealthy environment for their children who grow up despising their father.Lawrence himself described his father as someone who “lacked principle as my mother would have said.” “Their married life has been a carnal bloody fight.”
The growing hated of the sons and the mother towards Mr Morel brings them together into a close
relationship which has sexual undertones to it.Both sons are so emotionally bonded to their mother that they find it difficult to maintain normal relationships with the women in their lives.Its as if their mother possesses their soul due to which they are split between their love for their mother and their love for the women they are involved with.In the case of William,his relationship with Louisa Western comes to and end when he senses his mother’s inherent disapproval for her.This is followed by his illness and consequent death.Infact he alludes to his death several times post his break up which shows that he is unable to deal with his emotional turmoil in relation to his mother.
After William’s death the mother’s fondness for her second son,Paul increases.Problems crop up in Paul’s life when he enters into adolescence.Again in his case the split occurs.He is full of a feeling of guilt when he starts dating Miriam,who again is disliked by Mrs Morel because she feels that Miriam is responsible for her son’s upset state of mind.But the fact is that Paul’s underlying sexual desires, owing to his adolescence do not get an oulet because he’s deeply attached to his mother and because Miriam confines their relationship to chaste love.Therefore,he is never able to be his true self and give his best to the relationship.Later he does consummate his love affair but it leaves him dissatisfied and his earlier disturbed self returns.He then ends his relationship with Miriam.
The second relationship Paul has is with Clara and he manages to wear out his sexual passion with her without any apprehensions unlike in the case of Miriam.He continues with this love affair as the mother doesn’t see Clara as a threat to herself.Also,this relationship brings about a positive change in his personality and makes him feel complete.He attains the height of what Lawrence called “perfect love.” But yet again the unnatural bonding to his mother makes him end his relationship.
Towards the end he becomes more depairing and starts contemplating suicide after his mother’s death.This is because the reigns of his life are so tightly held by his mother that after her death he feels that his survival is impossible. However,he escapes from the clutches of death by overcoming the strong sense to kill himself.He gets this strength from his past relationship with Clara as it made him a complete transformed individual.