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 …

…to his development, yet finally proves destructive and inadequate". As the root to all of Paul’s relationships, Gertrude negatively influences the growth of her son, however she alone does not bring the downfall to Paul’s relationships, as each woman had her own defaults, Miriam being overly spiritual and Clara being overly sexual. Thus, Lawrence conveys that one cannot be fully satisfied while lacking either the emotional, sexual, or protective side of a relationship.