Sons and Lovers: Analysis of Major Characters
"Sons and Lovers: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the complex relationships within the Morel family, exploring how individual identities are shaped by familial bonds and societal expectations. Walter Morel, a coal miner, embodies the struggles of the working class, illustrating the impact of disillusionment and alcoholism on family dynamics. His wife, Gertrude Morel, initially yearns for a better life but becomes overly attached to her son Paul, ultimately stunting his emotional growth and complicating his romantic relationships. Paul Morel, the primary focus, grapples with his mother's influence and the struggle for independence, finding himself torn between familial loyalty and his desire for love. The narrative also examines the lives of Paul’s siblings, including his ambitious brother William and his sister Anne, who forge their paths away from their mother's shadow. Characters like Miriam Leivers and Clara Dawes represent different facets of love and desire, each influencing Paul’s development in distinct ways. This analysis highlights the intricate interplay of love, desire, and personal struggle amidst the backdrop of early 20th-century English society.
Sons and Lovers: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: D. H. Lawrence
First published: 1913
Genre: Novel
Locale: England
Plot: Psychological realism
Time: Late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries
Walter Morel, an English collier in many ways typical of the literary image of the lower-class workingman. He is not interested in the arts, in matters of the intellect, or even greatly in his work, which for him is merely a source of income. He is a creature who lives for whatever pleasures he can find in eating, drinking, and his bed. At first a warmly vital man, he later becomes rough and brutal to his family and fights with them verbally and physically. His wife, after the first glow of marriage fades, means little to him because of her puritanical attitudes and regard for culture, and he becomes alienated from his children. His one creative joy is mending odd bits of household equipment and his work clothing. He has been a coal miner since boyhood, and a coal miner he is content to be.
Gertrude Morel, Walter Morel's wife, who married beneath her class and who soon regrets her action. She is quickly disillusioned by her husband, and the glamour of their courtship soon fades. She discovers that her husband has debts, which he tells her he has paid, and that he constantly lies about the little money he brings home. He always keeps aside some money for his drinking, regardless of how little he earns at the mine. In her disillusionment, Mrs. Morel turns to her children for understanding and affection, as well to protect them from their father's brutality when drunk. As the sons and daughter appear on the scene, each becomes a focal point for the mother's love. She tries to help them escape the little mining community, and she succeeds. She places a blight on her second son, Paul, by centering her affections on him and loving him too well, making him the recipient of love that should have been given to her husband. Her affection and attentions cause him to be stunted emotionally. She never realizes what she is doing to the talented young man but always believes that she is working in his best interest by keeping him at home and governing his affections. Her life is cut short by cancer; Paul ends her terrible pain by giving her an overdose of opiates. Even after her death, her influence lingers in his life, so that he shows little evidence of developing into an individual, fulfilled personality.
Paul Morel, the second child of Walter and Gertrude Motel. After his older brother goes off to London to take a job, Paul receives the bulk of his mother's affection; she helps him find work as a clerk close to home so that he can continue to live with his family. He receives encouragement to study art and becomes a successful part-time painter and designer. Paul's mother and her influence keep him from growing up. Although he fights against her ruling his life, he is trapped. He readily understands how she forces him to give up his love for Miriam Leivers, whom he courts for many years, but he fails to see that his ability to love any woman as an adult man has been crippled by his emotional attachment to his mother.
William Morel, Paul's older brother. When he leaves his family to go to London, his mother transfers her obsessive affections to Paul. William falls in love with a shallow, pseudo-sophisticated woman who takes his money readily, even for her personal clothing, and treats his family as her servants. Although he sees through the girl, William feels trapped into marrying her. A tragic marriage for him is averted only through his sudden and untimely death.
Miriam Leivers, a young farm girl with a highly spiritual yet possessive nature. She and Paul Morel are companions until their late teens, at which time Miriam falls in love with the young man. She spends a great deal of time with him, for he undertakes to educate her in French, algebra, and other subjects, but his mother objects strenuously to her, especially when Paul seems to return her love. Of a highly romantic nature, Miriam is at first repelled by the physical aspects of love but is slowly persuaded to give herself to her lover, who later breaks off his engagement to her, saying that in her need for a committed love she wants too much from him.
Clara Dawes, a handsome married woman, physically emancipated and living apart from her husband. She becomes Paul Morel's mistress and comes as close as anyone can to helping him achieve the ability to love as an adult. At last, even she despairs of him; with his help, she is reconciled to her husband, from whom she has been separated for many years.
Mrs. Radford, Clara Dawes's mother.
Baxter Dawes, Clara Dawes's husband. Although he and Paul Morel are bitter enemies for a time and have a fight in which Paul is badly beaten, Paul's mother's final illness drives the young man to feel sympathy for his rival, the wronged husband. Dawes, who is recuperating from typhoid fever, is helped financially and morally by Paul, who eventually brings the man and his wife together.
Anne Morel, Paul Morel's sister. She escapes her home by becoming a schoolteacher. She achieves a happy, successful marriage and goes to live in Sheffield.
Arthur Morel, the youngest of Mrs. Morel's children, much like his father. He enlists in the Army, but later Mrs. Morel buys him out of the service. He is trapped into marriage with a young woman he does not love.
Louisa Lily “Gipsy” Denys Western, William Morel's shallow fiancée.
Mr. Leivers, a silent, withdrawn man, the owner of Willey Farm and Miriam's father.
Mrs. Leivers, his good, patient, and meek wife. Her philosophy is that the smitten should always turn the other cheek.
Agatha, a schoolteacher, Edgar, Geoffrey, Maurice, and Hubert Leivers, Miriam's sister and brothers. Edgar is Paul Morel's good friend. The Leivers boys display a brooding, almost brutal nature in contrast to Miriam's romantic spirituality.
Thomas Jordan, a manufacturer of surgical appliances in Nottingham. Paul becomes a clerk in his factory.
Miss Jordan, Paul Morel's patroness. She encourages his interest in art.
Mr. Pappleworth, a senior clerk, in charge of the spiral department, in Jordan's factory. When he leaves to set up a business of his own, Paul Morel becomes the spiral overseer.
Fanny, a hunchback, a “finisher” in the spiral department at the Jordan factory. She sympathizes with Paul Morel in his adolescent moodiness and unhappiness.