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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
Reading 'Sons and lovers' was a journey which, at times seemed to spin in circles and arrive no where, but ultimately was a beautifully navigated exploration of human nature and the deep and dark complexities of our psychology.
The main part of the story, Lawrence's narration of Paul Morley's childhood and young adulthood can be reduced to simply the product of the contents of 'Sons and Lovers' first chapters which many believe only delays the 'real' beginning of the novel. I think that it founds and explains its entirety. The abusive, self destructive and in some twisted way still loving relationship between the Morels gives birth to the troubles and internal conflicts of their children which we track throughout the novel. A combination of his father's abuse and neglect and instead his mother's overbearing and suffocating love (Lawrence grapples with the Oedipux complex in a very subtle, insightful way, doing justice to the complexity of the theory) leads Paul to be unable to form relationships and treat as well as love others well.
If there is one thing that Lawrence shows through Sons and lovers, it is that our psychology is not self contained and unaffected by our environments and instead very much moulded and a product of it.
His writings suit the contents of novel very well, as its simplicity and at times its crisp clarity gives him space to explore the very complicated human psychology whilst still allowing the reader to follow him, with ease and pleasure. There is something about his style which is so honest and true to his characters, so raw and authentic which mirrors the very non perfect and messy world of the Morels; he explores human nature in its darkest, most hopeless places and sheds light upon them to his readership. He shows us the beauty there is to be found and sought out in the pain and suffering and self contradiction which the characters experience, because we simply wouldn't be human without it.
His use of nature in 'Sons and Lovers' is also worth mentioning. Lawrence tends to give his most beautiful descriptions in some of the most uncomfortable and tense scenes in the novel, for instance the various moments he and Clara or he and Miriam have sex, or the moments of abuse which Mrs Morel experiences at the hands of her husband (as she is locked out of her house and sits staring at the moon). His majestic descriptions of the rain, the river, the trees or the forest or moon in such cases imbue these difficult moments with yet their share of beauty, leaving the reader themselves in a somewhat confused state. But he helps reconcile both himself and his readership maybe with the pain and suffering in the world, by demonstrating that beauty and love are always present and at times even products of such suffering, as is Paul and Mrs Morley's love a product of her husband's neglect and abuse of her and so of the pain that she experiences.
I gave the novel 4 stars, because I found that especially with Miriam and Paul's relationships, it became quite tedious to read as they constantly shifted backwards and forwards and ran around in circles, so much so that the momentum of the story seemed slightly disrupted. But in general I disagree with those who believe the novel to be too long. Whilst it could have been slightly shorter I agree, overall I think the length and slow pace of the novel really captures the stagnation of Paul's life whilst his mother is alive, as whenever the plot seems to progress, whenever he seems to be about to marry or leave she is a force pulling him back and stops him from moving forward. The deliberacy of this by Lawrence I think is perceptible in the very last line of the novel,
'He walked towards the faintly humming, glowing town, quickly '.
This newfound sense of direction, paired with that adjective 'quickly' shows Paul's newfound sense of urgency and decision making, finally as he lets his mother go and unshackles himself from their love. In this one sentence, there seems to be more movement and change and taking of decisions than there are in the entirety of the novel, as Paul can finally begin living now that his mother is dead.
The main part of the story, Lawrence's narration of Paul Morley's childhood and young adulthood can be reduced to simply the product of the contents of 'Sons and Lovers' first chapters which many believe only delays the 'real' beginning of the novel. I think that it founds and explains its entirety. The abusive, self destructive and in some twisted way still loving relationship between the Morels gives birth to the troubles and internal conflicts of their children which we track throughout the novel. A combination of his father's abuse and neglect and instead his mother's overbearing and suffocating love (Lawrence grapples with the Oedipux complex in a very subtle, insightful way, doing justice to the complexity of the theory) leads Paul to be unable to form relationships and treat as well as love others well.
If there is one thing that Lawrence shows through Sons and lovers, it is that our psychology is not self contained and unaffected by our environments and instead very much moulded and a product of it.
His writings suit the contents of novel very well, as its simplicity and at times its crisp clarity gives him space to explore the very complicated human psychology whilst still allowing the reader to follow him, with ease and pleasure. There is something about his style which is so honest and true to his characters, so raw and authentic which mirrors the very non perfect and messy world of the Morels; he explores human nature in its darkest, most hopeless places and sheds light upon them to his readership. He shows us the beauty there is to be found and sought out in the pain and suffering and self contradiction which the characters experience, because we simply wouldn't be human without it.
His use of nature in 'Sons and Lovers' is also worth mentioning. Lawrence tends to give his most beautiful descriptions in some of the most uncomfortable and tense scenes in the novel, for instance the various moments he and Clara or he and Miriam have sex, or the moments of abuse which Mrs Morel experiences at the hands of her husband (as she is locked out of her house and sits staring at the moon). His majestic descriptions of the rain, the river, the trees or the forest or moon in such cases imbue these difficult moments with yet their share of beauty, leaving the reader themselves in a somewhat confused state. But he helps reconcile both himself and his readership maybe with the pain and suffering in the world, by demonstrating that beauty and love are always present and at times even products of such suffering, as is Paul and Mrs Morley's love a product of her husband's neglect and abuse of her and so of the pain that she experiences.
I gave the novel 4 stars, because I found that especially with Miriam and Paul's relationships, it became quite tedious to read as they constantly shifted backwards and forwards and ran around in circles, so much so that the momentum of the story seemed slightly disrupted. But in general I disagree with those who believe the novel to be too long. Whilst it could have been slightly shorter I agree, overall I think the length and slow pace of the novel really captures the stagnation of Paul's life whilst his mother is alive, as whenever the plot seems to progress, whenever he seems to be about to marry or leave she is a force pulling him back and stops him from moving forward. The deliberacy of this by Lawrence I think is perceptible in the very last line of the novel,
'He walked towards the faintly humming, glowing town, quickly '.
This newfound sense of direction, paired with that adjective 'quickly' shows Paul's newfound sense of urgency and decision making, finally as he lets his mother go and unshackles himself from their love. In this one sentence, there seems to be more movement and change and taking of decisions than there are in the entirety of the novel, as Paul can finally begin living now that his mother is dead.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I tried. I tried so hard with this book. The first third - I found myself intrigued, wanting to know more about this wretched family and their misfortunes. And then, dearest little prat - err, Paul -- became the centerpiece of the story, along with mopey Miriam, and I just gave up. I read until I hit about 50%, and called it quits. I'd love to chat with an English prof who teaches this book to better understand its significance...
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I know. I'm an idiot. Book is listed 9th by the Modern Library among the best novels ever written. I just didn't see it. As a former editor for a large trade house, I couldn't help but wonder where Lawrence's editor was. Just in terms of the amount of sheer repetition ("He almost hated her," and various iterations of this sentiment, appeared once every two pages, it seemed). When you talk about the emerging consciousness of a young man, Joyce has written the handbook, and I feel Lawrence just didn't live up to his own talent here. So yes, shudder at my score if you will, but I have to be honest. I just didn't' like it.
I hadn't expected this ode to the multitudinous contortions and distortions of love to culminate in a pure existential crisis!
I'd rate it 6 stars if I could. This book left me destroyed and hopeful at once. It describes the most complex of human emotion and experience so vividly you feel as if you are living the lives of the characters. I highly recommend it.
Despite Lawrence being a first class talent, this novel was a little too English for me. Practically every scene unfolds in a garden, in front of a hearth, a pub, a coal mine or in the fog while crows fly overhead. There is much description of jealousy, passion and lover's souls in a Nottinghamshire dialect. As a reader, this all gets in my way. But what saves this story, for me, is the unexpectedly bleak ending. I won't spoil it but things don't get better. We're all naked, drifting towards death. That's the sort of novel I always want to read.