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A review by readerinthedale
Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I think Paul Morel would benefit from knowing about bisexuality, and from a crash course in resisting gender essentialism.
Despite Paul’s grating hatred of women, and his endless struggle to confront this while refusing to name it for what it is, I liked this book. Lawrence constructs place in this novel beautifully and vividly. The pages come to life. There is a mixture of sweeping strokes and minute details that blend together into a incredibly real picture of the landscape. He also populates this defined place with physically present, complex characters. I will say that the sense of place falls apart a bit in the last few chapters, which is a bit confusing. I think there is potentially a reason for that, as it reflects the deterioration of Paul’s sense of belonging, but it didn’t quite feel intentional enough to work for this purpose.
Everyone in this novel hurts others, Paul somehow more than anyone else. It is not always intentional, but it is painful to read all the same. I read this as a reflection of the effects of class differences and gender essentialism. Paul feels burdened by his confusion over his place in the world. He inherits generational struggles against the gender binary from his parents (more specifically his mother and her disappointment around men). This leads to a hatred of himself, and a hatred of women which he attributes his cruelty towards his lovers to. The characters seem to believe more strict gender roles would relieve this issues, while I would disagree. Obviously this is a product of an earlier time, and an interesting perspective to contrast to with my modern queer interpretation of gender and its role in society.
Despite Paul’s grating hatred of women, and his endless struggle to confront this while refusing to name it for what it is, I liked this book. Lawrence constructs place in this novel beautifully and vividly. The pages come to life. There is a mixture of sweeping strokes and minute details that blend together into a incredibly real picture of the landscape. He also populates this defined place with physically present, complex characters. I will say that the sense of place falls apart a bit in the last few chapters, which is a bit confusing. I think there is potentially a reason for that, as it reflects the deterioration of Paul’s sense of belonging, but it didn’t quite feel intentional enough to work for this purpose.
Everyone in this novel hurts others, Paul somehow more than anyone else. It is not always intentional, but it is painful to read all the same. I read this as a reflection of the effects of class differences and gender essentialism. Paul feels burdened by his confusion over his place in the world. He inherits generational struggles against the gender binary from his parents (more specifically his mother and her disappointment around men). This leads to a hatred of himself, and a hatred of women which he attributes his cruelty towards his lovers to. The characters seem to believe more strict gender roles would relieve this issues, while I would disagree. Obviously this is a product of an earlier time, and an interesting perspective to contrast to with my modern queer interpretation of gender and its role in society.