Cafe Libri discussion
This topic is about
Sons and Lovers
2012 Book of the Month Reads
>
February and March: "Sons and Lovers” by D.H. Lawrence
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Adrianna, Owner of Cafe Libri
(new)
Dec 22, 2011 10:54PM
Mod
reply
|
flag
Be sure to read an edition dated 1992 or later or you will find about 80 pages missing. The 1913 edition was heavily edited by the publisher as I recall.
Mod
Thanks for letting everyone know, Jeffrey. It looks like the selection I've marked from Goodreads is especially long because it has annotations. I didn't notice that it had so many extra features to it!
Mod
order. This type of narrative is called episodic. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of this type of narration? One effect this technique has is the
blending of different time periods. Another element that contributes to the
blending of time periods is the use of the iterative mode, which causes
confusion about whether events happened one or many times. Think about the
effects these techniques have on the text.
Think about the role the chapter titles play in the novel. Do they reveal too
much information about the story? Contrast them with chapter headings in
eighteenth-century episodic novels like Henry Fielding's Tom Jones or Laurence
Sterne's Tristram Shandy, both of which have elaborate chapter headings
describing everything that happens in the chapter. Also think about if the novel
would have been different if the chapters had no titles.
What role do the shifting narrative perspectives play in the novel? Trace the
shifting perspective throughout the novel to determine from which character's
point of view the story seems to be narrated at each point.
What function does the division of the novel into two parts serve? One possible
interpretation: the first part of the novel focuses on Mrs. Morel and the second
part focuses on Paul. Does this seem like a valid distinction? What other
factors seem to distinguish the two sections of the novel from each other?
Much of the novel is concerned with Paul's relationship with women, most
importantly his mother, Miriam, and Clara. Examine Paul's interactions with the
other male characters in the novel. Consider his father, his brothers, Mr.
Pappleworth, Edgar Leivers, Baxter Dawes.
Paul's close relationship with his mother has provoked many Freudian and Oedipal
readings of this novel. Is this type of reading valid? If not, what do you make
of the relationship between Paul and his mother, which seems to be the one
constant force throughout the novel?
Is Mrs. Morel the most important woman to Paul throughout the novel, or are
there moments at which his relationships with Miriam or Clara take precedence?
If so, what is the significance of these moments? Why does he always come back
to his mother in the end? You may also want to trace the theme of a higher level
of understanding between Paul and his mother throughout the novel, possibly
beginning with his illness immediately after William's death.
What goes wrong between Paul and Miriam? Is it just that she cannot compete with
his love for his mother, or is there some other problem?
Why does Paul change his mind so often? Trace his on- again, off-again feelings
for Miriam and Clara throughout the novel.
Think about the religious aspects of this novel. Consider in particular Miriam's
notions of sacrifice and of "baptism of fire in passion."
Morel speaks in a dialect throughout the novel. Why might Lawrence have chosen
to make Morel use a dialect? Does it set him apart from the other characters?
Are there any other characters who speak in this dialect, and, if so, what
purpose does this serve? What is the function of language as communication in
the novel?
Mod
Just finished Part 1
I've been a little slow starting this month's read but I am thoroughly enjoying
it now that it's underway. I very much sympathize with Mrs Morel and her
position. Who hasn't been stuck in a job, a relationship, any bad situation and
felt compelled to stay for reasons beyond themselves. I find it refreshing to
know this has been a timeless problem. I think the only way to make it through
such a situation is to find an outlet, a small glimmer of hope to devote one's
self to. For Mrs Morel that was her children. I don't find merit in the Oedipal
references to this novel. I think Mrs Morel saw William and Paul as companions
in an otherwise lonely existence and while she treats them as more adult than
their age I never sensed any underlying romantic or sexual conflict.
Looking forward to part 2!
Mod
S&L Part 2
I just started chapter 7 and I am confused. First, with these young people
wandering all over the place ... If Paul works a 12 hour day at a place that is
10 miles from home, how is he then able after work to visit that farm, which
took he and his mother several hours to hike to the first time? Are these actual
towns in England? I am not oriented, geography-wise. And then, at another
point Paul pops in at the farm with a bicycle, which has never been mentioned
before, and would seem to be a rather noteworthy item in a household of bargain
shoppers. I liked the symbolism of Mrs Morel's clinging to umbrellas relative
to William, in that she saw him as her protecter for a period in her life.
I am also disturbed. It certainly seems DH Lawrence was ahead of his time in
his understanding of domestic violence. I was particularly taken with the
author's description of how much the abuser blames the person he abuses, and how
committing such violence leads to hating the victim. The physical abuse in the
Morel house seems to be reflected in the emotional abuse in Miriam's family, but
Lawrence leads us to believe that Miriam and her mother are somehow at fault in
this by not standing up for themselves. Paul throws a pencil in Miriam's face.
I am finding this disturbing, in a character I am meant to have sympathy with.
Lark
Mod
Now that I'm well into part 2, the difference in tone between the two parts has
become evident as has the way in which the parts are intertwined. Part 1 was
focused on Mrs Morel, her unhappiness in her marriage and her love for her
children. Part 2 tells Paul's story. While Mrs Morel stayed in a marriage for
the sake of her children, it seems to me Paul has an inability to commit to a
relationship because of his love for his mother. As I am about to be married
myself, I can say I've seen first hand the struggle some men go through trying
to establish their own life with the woman they love while not feeling like they
have betrayed their mother. And it's no secret mothers are often very critical
of future daughter in laws, as Mrs Morel is of Miriam. I thought the quote that
best summarized the relationship between Mrs Morel and Paul at this point in the
story is her stating that daughters are always their mothers' daughter, but sons
only belong to their mothers until they've married. It is obvious Paul has
feelings for Miriam and attraction to her but he is depriving himself of
starting a sexual relationship with her for fear that it would destroy his
resolve to remain loyal to his mother over all other women. Time and again I am
impressed by how timeless the issues Lawerance frames are.
Mod
Finally finished this book. I did not like it, so I had to sort of force myself
to finish. It was way too freudian for me, but I guess that was a remarkable
feature of the novel when it was published. I think Annie was the only woman in
the book who did not display inordinate interest in Paul, despite his complete
lack of character, middling appearance, and poor financial prospects.
Anyway, I'm glad I read this, because it is classic, but I don't think it stands
the test of time, given that so much of Freud's work, particularly around gender
issues and sexuality, has been discredited.
Lark
Mod
As usual, Lark, you cut to the heart of the matter...at least IMHO:) I was
thinking over just what to say about my feelings about the book and then,
you said it for me and apparently with more knowledge of the Freudian
theories than I have. I just knew that I was not comfortable with the
relationship between Paul and his mother, feeling it was not healthy for
Paul's development and pathetic that his mother only had him to meet her
needs.for affection.
Growing up, we lived near a family who had an unhealthy attachment similar
to this but between a mother and daughter. The mother refused to accept
any boyfriend the girl brought home until the girl finally gave up dating
and now, the mother and dad are dead and the daughter lives a very lonely
life in her old age, never having developed a life of her own.
This family actually spurred me to leave home as quickly as I could
because I did NOT want to end up like the daughter (we were both 'only
children', so I was very aware of the similarities, although my mother was
in no way controlling like that). The daughter at one time said that the
mom, dad and daughter all rode in the front seat when ever they drove
anywhere (this was before bucket seats:), because if anything happened to
Mom and Dad, the daughter wanted it to happen to her too!! GROAN!
I too am glad I read the book since I've always heard of the title but knew
nothing about the story. It may not have stood the test of time in some
ways but it did reflect the human condition for some people.
