Family Chronicle and bildungsroman. Psychological investigation, love and sexuality. Contradictions, oppositions ... realism and symbolism. All these means - and beyond - were used by the English writer DH Lawrence novel Sons and Lovers (ed Polirom Collection Top 10 +).
Sons and Lovers appeared in 1913, is the third novel by DH Lawrence. It consists of two parts, the first being a family chronicle (Gertrude and Walter Morel, along with their four children), and the second a bildungsroman (focusing on the evolution of Paul Morel, the character whose name was originally used as title for the novel). We have to do so with a study of family and social classes, and the first sexual experiences (presented by good language and allusions more or less veiled).
My first reading book was in English and I thought the title would mean "Sons and Lovers" (I had to find something later that the book bore that title in previous versions). It seemed more appropriate for ambiguity keep English version. But I missed a detail that I discovered during the reading in Romanian, we use the term "lovers" might inferred presence of a physical relationship between sons and mother. In other words, could involve the idea of incest, but the relationship between William and - especially - Paul Gertrude is purely spiritual. Moreover, throughout the novel is stressed many times that Paul and his mother behaved like two lovers ("Generally, [Paul] does not come away from his mother's side, the park had been lovers" - p 226 ).
Based on the above, we reach one of the main topics tackled by Lawrence: Oedipus complex. This theory characterizes relations between the two sons (William and Paul) and their mother. Love ends up smothering mother, when boys reach adulthood, they remain enslaved and can not love another woman. William became engaged, but Gertrude Morel not accept on face (superficial Louisa Lily Denys Western) and the young man is facing a situation that you destroy: body belongs fiancee, but the mother's soul. Once lost identity, William dies. The situation is somewhat different with Paul. Miriam, who falls from the first time, fighting for his soul, arousing jealousy mother. As for Clara, the two young lover, she offers love but fails to hold it altogether, just as he wished. Paul does not find fulfillment and often do not know what he wants or feels. Both Miriam, and Clara loves them but hates them ... hated it sometimes feels to the mother. Of course, nothing like the hatred he feels for the father, he wants to beat him, reaching even to death and desire.
Another important element worth mentioning is autobiographical dimension. Paul Morel is a projection of DH Lawrence and the close relationship between author and mother of the basis for creating novel. Writer's family situation is mirrored by Morel family: his father was a miner (and Lawrence describe the same feelings of hatred towards him that they try to Walter Paul Morel), were always strained ties between the parents, mother - though came from a higher social class husband - was related to the house and raising children. Miriam Leivers was created in the image of Jessie Chambers (first girlfriend of Lawrence, which his family has never accepted). Mother's death the writer is also used in building novel.
We are dealing with a partial omniescienta, especially in the first half. In the second predominant view of Paul (personage with contradictory personality), which raises a question mark about the credibility, especially when it comes to how he sees people around it. Paul is unable to feel fulfilled, to escape the mother's influence and love someone else. Oscillating between love and hate and judge especially women who come into contact with its changing light semtimentelor.
I can not conclude without mentioning the oppressive atmosphere that accompanies you throughout the reading. With one exception, there is a fragment diameter opposed to the rest of the book. Pages 34-35 presents superb moments of revelation, a second baptism in nature. Why and how ... you can unlock the secret alone.