Paul is torn between his passion for two women in Sons and Lovers. One is the mysterious, sensual and intelligent Miriam, and the second his unyielding devotion to his mother Gertrude Morel. Paul knows that he is lucky to have his loving mother who thinks and cares for his ever changing future. Paul’s mother is his backbone. He is truly devoted to his mother and does everything in his power to disappoint and let her down. Paul’s close relationship with his mother Gertrude cripples the relationship between Paul and Miriam. However Paul is not an easy person to predict since he is a fascinating mixture of extremes: vitality and despondency, spirituality and skepticism, sensitivity and cruelty. All of these character traits get used on Miriam. She is constantly harassed and put down by Paul. This is not due to Paul’s hate for Miriam but to Paul’s tentativeness to get involved and disappoint his mother.
Paul and Miriam’s relationship is very intricate. The intricacies come from the very different thought’s they both posses. Miriam is a very intelligent and sophisticated person who sees more into things than Paul. She questions many things that come to her attention every day. Paul mentions that she is “to intelligent and sponta
. . .
” “Paul hates her for this,” to him it seems a sort of exposure about the action, something to intimate. This flower scene shows the reader the true opposites that Paul and Miriam are, and also what makes them like and be with each other. All of the pieces of the puzzle arrive to that conclusion. Paul in the end of the novel gives hints to Miriam that their romance or relationship of anything other than friends has stopped. He feels inclined to do what his mother asks of him. His decision was made based on his inability to make up his own mind and to fight off the things his mother told him. This is an example of their contrasting views to such a simple thing. Sons and Lovers deals constantly in oppositions, such as light and dark.
Paul’s unwillingness to enter romance is from the fear of disappointing his mother and his problem with relationships. Paul posseses all the characteristics that would make Freud’s statement true, he has the utmost respect, devotion and love for his mother, and he despises his Father for being the man that he is. One can notice that Paul and Miriam are very much the same as Mr and Mrs Morel. It is here that I noticed the probable sexual childhood attraction of a young boy for his mother. Paul has trouble finding a satisfying relationship with any woman other than his mother. He thus failed to love a person who cared for him dearly in Miriam. He can be very lovable and charismatic to her, but he can also show his dark side by being very cruel and condescending towards her.
Approximate Word count =
1648
Approximate Pages =
7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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