analysis of sons and lovers

朱玉 11301157

SONS AND LOVERS

Analysis of Mrs. Morel in Sons and Lovers

There is a female figure in D.H.Dawrence’s work, whose name was Gertrude.Morel. She added luster to the work itself and her desire to dominate is a special feature lying in her characteristics. Her domination can be discovered clearly on her attitude towards Walter. Morel, William.Morel and Paul.Morel.

The first man dominated by her was Walter.Morel. She married Walter.Morel without considering their difference in social and economic status, as a result, after a few years later she found her husband was not the one she thought before and she did not love him, but she did not divorce with him, because she knew clearly that she was able to dominate him and control him easily. The wife required her husband to do what she wanted to do. Therefore, her domination to the husband had killed him to some extent, so it could be believed reasonably that Mr.Morel’s later spiritual depression and his drowning worries in drinks are owing to Mrs.Merol’s domination and oppression towards him.

Mrs.Morel’s domination appeared again on William.Morel. With William growing up, he took a better job in London and moved away from the family, which upset Mrs. Morel .Then William fell in love with a woman, but Mrs.Morel tried to persuade her son to dissolve it, thus it was obvious that Mrs.Morel limited William’s freedom and regarded William as her private property and she wanted to get the absolute domination and possession of him.

Her desire to dominate came to its climax on Paul.Morel. The domination on Paul was displayed by her hostility towards Mariam, paul’s first love. Mrs.morel always believed that Mariam wanted to fight for the ownership of Paul with her and the girl would get Paul out of her control. The mother could not bear to release her son. She felt somehow worried and resentful when Paul was out with Mariam. And just because of her dominating relationship between Paul and his mother, finally giving in his mother, paul broke the relationship off with Mariam. From beginning to end, Mrs.Morel was an impeded factor during Paul and Mariam’s staying together.

Meanwhile, Mrs.Morel agreed Paul to contact with Clara. It seemed that her desire to dominate was decreasing, but actually it was not. She even encouraged Paul to be together with Clara, because she believed the relationship would satisfy Paul’s sexual need and Clara could only have Paul physically, while she could still keep her son’s deeper love and loyalty. It could be said that Mrs.Morel had completely reached the goal of dominating Paul’s soul.

Mrs.Morel’s strong desire to dominate her husband and her sons was a vivid clue and took an important role in this novel.