A Defense on Mr. Morel in Sons and Lovers

Abstract

This paper deals mainly with the characterization of Mr. Morel, the hero Paul’s father in Sons and Lovers, who has been said to be a fictional representation of D. H. Larwrence’s own father. In this paper I propose Lawrence’s treatment of the character Mr. Morel can be seen as more sympathetic, more generous, and above all, more thematically important than it looks on a literal level, which make us rethink about the comments of many other critics, who have claimed that Lawrence was rather unfair, limited, Oedipal and even cruel in portraying the character representing the working class. To support this thesis, other writings by the novelist, other criticisms and most importantly, closer readings of the text have been all used. While this kind of analysis has been done, Lawrence’s more dynamic, more complicated vision about modern civilization is explicated in detail; and some new critical interpretations of the novel itself, especially of some neglected textual parts and some minor characters, are also suggested.