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 spontaneous to hold an ordinary conversation with." In the exert Miriam has very different views towards flowers than Paul does. "To her, flowers appealed with such strength she felt she must make them part of herself. When she bent and breathed a flower, it was as if she and the flower were loving each other." "Paul hates her for this," to him it seems a sort of exposure about the action, something to intimate. This is an example of their contrasting views to such a simple thing. 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. One can notice that Paul and Miriam are very m...