Sons and Lovers
Throughout one's lifetime many relationships are established between people that result in either a negative or positive influence on a person, shaping how they form new relationships with others. Throughout D.H. Lawrence's classic novel Son's and Lovers, the character of Paul Morel is developed through his relationships with three women, Gertrude, his mother, and his two loves Miriam and Clara. These women each play a distinct role in the construction of Paul, as his connection with his mother is Oedipal, while his relationships with Clara and Miriam are sexual and spiritual. Gertrude is the most powerful woman in Paul's life, and thus this tight-knit relationship serves as the root for Paul's future affairs. It is no coincidence that Gertrude shares the same name as Hamlet's Queen Gertrude, for both women share the mother's possessive role of the Oedipal complex. Paul sees his mother as youthful and virginal, frequently comparing her to flowers. At times Paul and Gertrude's closeness is almost like that of a couple, for example while the mother and son dine in town together, Paul thinks of her as "gay as a sweetheart", and feels the "excitement of lovers". However, Gertrude's youthfulness was not eternal, and so when i
However, their relationship is quite the opposite, as Miriam prides herself on arousing Paul's soul, having "the ability to stimulate him in his work, to arouse his own spiritual nature. Paul naturally falls in love with her because she reminds him of Gertrude's virginal youth as well as their common appreciation for nature. However it can be argued that Gertrude is, indeed, the cause of the breakup, for the idea of replacement worries Paul as much as it does his mother. Thus, Lawrence conveys that one cannot be fully satisfied while lacking either the emotional, sexual, or protective side of a relationship. Paul is pushed toward his relationship with Clara Dawes by both Miriam and Gertrude, for they hope that she will give Paul the sexual fulfillment that neither of them can provide. " Although Miriam feels she has the ability to control Paul's soul, her innocence creates fear of any type of intimacy, for she "could scarcely stand the shock of physical love, even a passionate kiss. Thus, Miriam and Paul's relationship is inevitably diminished. " Miriam's intensely spiritual nature smothers Paul but deprives him of sex. And I should die there, smother," refusing to repeat the relationship he shared with his mother.
Common topics in this essay:
Mark Spilka,
Dawes Spilka,
Dawes Miriam,
Referring Weiss',
Miriam Paul's,
Paul Gertrude's,
Miriam Lievers,
Paul Clara's,
Miriam Clara,
Clara Miriam,
paul's soul,
injured third party,
gertrude's death,
oedipal complex,
baxter dawes,
spiritual nature,
weiss suggests,
love passionate,
root paul's,
miriam clara,
injured third,
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Acceptance Essays
