Sons and Lovers (1913) by D.H. Lawrence is the
story of the
relationship between a
mother, Gertrude Morel and her son, Paul. The novel is partly autobiographical and is based on Freud’s theory of Oedipus Complex (sons are emotionally more drawn towards mothers). The story is set in the small coalmining town of Bestwood where the Morel family lives. Mr. and Mrs. Morel are a contrast as far as their personalities are concerned. Mr. Morel is a coal miner, and a drunkard, whereas Mrs. Morel is an educated, civilized, and intellectual lady. The couple has three kids- two sons (Paul and William) and a daughter (Annie). But the story revolves around the relationship between Paul and his mother. Paul works in a surgical appliances factory. His mother is totally devoted to the elder son, William. But when William dies of a skin disease, his mother is grief-stricken. She puts her heart and soul in the upbringing of her second teenage son, Paul. Both share a very emotional and loving relationship. Gertrude does not have a happy married life and Paul too does not like his father.
As a result of working in the factory, Paul falls sick and is nursed back to health by Miriam Leivers and falls in love with her. Miriam is a girl of very religious and
intense bent of mind. Both share a completely platonic but intense relationship which is highly disliked by Paul’s mother as she feels that Miriam is trying to take her son away from her. Their relationship comes to an end as a result of Miriam’s intense religious temperament and Paul’s mother’s over protective attitude towards him. Time passes by and Paul reaches his 20’s. He is quite passionate and romantic and makes love to Miriam, thus putting an end to his rapturous relation with her as he does not wish to get stuck up in marriage.
Finally, Paul gets attracted towards Clara Dawes, a married older woman who has left her husband. But this relationship is also bound to doom as Clara’s husband, Baxter Dawes, one night beats up Paul for romancing and having sex with his wife. As things would have it, Paul’s mother is detected with the presence of a tumor and eventually dies. Paul brings about a reunion between Clara and her husband by befriending both of them. Both Paul and his father part ways and Miriam appeals to Paul to marry her. He refuses and gets lost in his own inner darkness.
The novel is completely based on the emotional and loving relationship between son and mother that leads to many catastrophes in their respective lives. Paul is afflicted by the Oedipus complex, but at the same time, his mother is also too obsessed with him as a result of a failed marriage. The novel is a sad and poignant story of mother and son relationship that remains intact even after Paul’s mother’s death.
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