Who is Paul Morel?
Paul Morel is the most important character of the novel, Sons and Lovers. The character of Paul is highly autobiographical because he mirrors D. H. Lawrence himself. Lawrence himself had an Oedipal relationship with his mother, Lydia Lawrence. He rejected Jessie Chambers out of the strong influence of his mother. Paul suffers the very complexes that Lawrence himself suffered. Let's explore in detail about Paul.
His Sickly Posture
Paul is the third child. He is born in the midst of harsh quarrels between Gertrude and Walter. Gertrude even thinks that she does not want any children anymore. When the child (Paul) is born, his knitted and heavy eyes may signal the concept of 'pain'. His mother is extremely moved by his facial expression and she resolutes that "with all her force, with all her soul, she would make up to it for having brought it into the world involved".
Paul Morel was a lean and delicate child in his childhood. When he grew up a bit, he waa transitioned into "a rather finely boy, with dark brown hair and light blue eyes" that last its brightness and animation throughout his life.
Unhealthy Domestic Atmosphere and its Adverse Effects in Paul's Life
As Paul grows on in years, he is greeted by the frequent quarrels between his father and his mother. This leaves a significant mark in Paul's childhood. He is forced to side with his mother. He remains afraid throughout the day and night, thinking and praying about the safety of his mother. In his upstairs lodgings, he remains anxious about the business downstairs. He even prays that his father should stop drinking. The unhealthy domestic atmosphere affects him in three ways,
Firstly, he gets depressed for no obvious reasons and begins crying bitterly. His mother tries her best to console him but it does not help him either. When his father threatens Paul that he will beat him if he does not stop crying. It hurts Paul more.
Secondly, Paul grows an uncontrollable hatred for his father. He cannot even bear the sight of his father. When he wins a prize for the first time, his mother asks him to show it to his father but he replies that he would rather hide it.
Thirdly, this situation creates an unhealthy dependence of Paul upon his mother that creates a significant rift between his emotional life when he is pursuing Miriam and Clara Daves.
Self-Conscious
From his childhood to his adulthood, Paul remains occupied in his own self. That is because he is allergic of the world outside him and he does not feel compatible with his society. Resultantly, his first day at school is a nightmare for him. His experience of collecting wages in the pit is not good because of the vulgar language of the workers. Similarly, when he is climbing stairs in the Jordan's to appear in the interview, Lawrence depicts Paul's internal agony as thus,
Charles 1 mounted his scaffold with a lighter heart than did Paul Morel as he followed his mother up to the dirty steps to the dirty door.
A Budding Artist
Paul is a skilled painter. This is the only art that makes both of his parents proud. It is to be noted that one of his paintings get featured in Nottingham Castle Exhibition and is sold out in return of a handsome amount. Paul is fond of painting. He is solemnly absorbed in painting and does not even know what is happening in his surroundings. He talks endlessly of his sketches to Miriam.
Paul is not only well versed in the art of painting, but also he is good at French and Algebra. He teaches Algebra to Miriam and they both discussed about the books they read.
Paul and Gertrude
Paul's relationship with his mother can be divided into two major periods. Of his childhood and his adulthood. In Paul's childhood, his relationship with his mother was based upon healthy intentions. He was lonely so he got an outlet for his inner conflicts in the form of his mother and in return, his mother used to transfer her attention away from her husband to her son. They used to visit forests and exhibition centres. But as Paul grew up into his adulthood, the mother-son relationship grew unnatural. Gertrude used her son as her husband's substitute. She once said that she never had a husband and in return, to console his mother, Paul put his face on her throat and she gave him a long kiss. Similarly, when Paul was born, Gertrude thought that the navel string had not been broken that connected her body with his frail organs. Such a relationship adversely affected Paul's ability to mix up with the girls of his age.
Paul and Miriam
The friendship between Paul and Miriam is established when they are quite young. The friendship is initially based upon Paul's need for criticism of his paintings. Miriam is religious and romantic but not sexually attractive. Paul mostly brings his paintings to Miriam for criticism and she eagerly waits for him to learn something new about life. But Paul is unsuccessful in arousing her sexual instructions out of the strong influence of his mother. For instance, when both of them are in bed, Paul feels extremely dissatisfied with her and he leaves her.
Paul and Clara
Paul Clara relationship is quite an opposite of Paul Miriam connection. Clara is hungry for sex. Her body is an invitation card for having sex. Paul is immediately charmed by her swelling breasts and plump arms. For a short period of time, Paul believes that he has attained an absolute bliss but he cannot get his intellectual demands fulfilled from Clara and she returns to her husband as Paul cannot satisfy her sexual hunger while her husband can.
Conclusion
After the death of his mother, Paul is left alone and broken. He has no one to share his feelings and ideas. He has left Miriam and Clara leaves him. Although he tries in vain to go back to the village and start painting. But he has lost the courage to do so. He is left"with a drift towards death", as Lawrence puts the final ending of the hero.
Sources and Suggested Readings
- Sons and Lovers - Study Guide by Famous Products - Page 97
- Lecture of Sir Faisal
