Sons and Lovers

Arthur’s “wild and restless” nature causes problems (168). Gertrude receives a letter from Arthur, explaining to her that he joined the army. Now, however, he regrets his decision. He is stationed in Derby, so Gertrude travels to the barracks to speak to Arthur’s sergeant, but she fails to convince the man to let Arthur leave the army. Walter disowns his son and forbids Arthur from ever returning home.

Paul finds success in his artistic endeavors. His paintings are part of an art exhibit at Nottingham Castle, and he wins two prizes. Gertrude is proud of Paul, and Paul delights in her pride. On his way to the castle, he meets Miriam and Clara Dawes, Miriam’s “rather striking” friend (172). Clara has recently left her husband, and she is part of the women’s rights movement. Paul works alongside her estranged husband at the surgical supply factory. Paul dislikes the man, who he sees as a bully. Paul speaks to Miriam about Clara, describing her fierce and defiant nature. There is still an invisible barrier between Paul and Miriam that keeps them separate. Even when Paul wants to comfort or kiss Miriam, he refrains. When she touches him or praises him, his blood feels suddenly hot. One day, Miriam visits the Morel family with her brother Edgar. Gertrude disapproves of Miriam, which leaves Paul feeling hopeless and sad. In March, Miriam and Paul sit together on the bank of a river. Paul can sense Miriam’s desire for him, but he feels a need to resist her. He yearns to give Miriam his love and passion, but he cannot bring himself to do so. Ultimately, he reiterates that their relationship is “only friendship” (182). Miriam is profoundly hurt.

Mr. Pappleworth quits, so Paul receives a promotion. During this time, he is studying design, while his sister Annie has gotten engaged to Paul’s friend Leonard. At home, Gertrude asks Paul to bake bread while she goes to the market. Miriam pays a visit, allowing them to imagine the home as “their own house, his and hers” (187), until they are interrupted by a family friend named Beatrice, who teases Miriam and Paul. She distracts them so much that Paul allows the bread to burn. Beatrice leaves, so Paul returns to his attempts to teach Miriam how to speak French. As a writing exercise, Miriam composes a diary entry. The entry sounds like “a love-letter” (192), but Paul ignores any sentimentality and focuses on correcting Miriam’s grammar. When Miriam looks at Paul with a profound love in her eyes, he feels an intense resentment toward her. Tucking the burned loaves beneath the good loaves, Paul exits. He returns to the house to find Gertrude and Annie waiting for him. The burned bread is on the table in front of them. Annie speaks to Paul, revealing that their mother is sick. Annie is worried that their mother is suffering from heart problems. Gertrude blames the burned bread on Paul’s affection for Miriam, claiming that he is “too eager to be off with Miriam” (195). Paul assures his mother that he and Miriam are just friends; he would rather return home to his mother than be with Miriam. Gertrude embraces Paul, who strokes his mother’s hair and places his mouth against her throat. Gertrude kisses Paul, and, as he strokes her face, he kisses her. Walter enters, scowling at his wife and son at their “mischief again” (198). He hurls a pork pie (made for Paul) into the fire as Gertrude faints. Paul rushes to his mother’s side, feeling “at peace” because he knows that he loves his mother more than anyone else (199).

Paul is “dissatisfied” with his life and himself (200). He knows that he can never stop loving his mother and he cannot hurt her. Miriam, meanwhile, fears that she will never be able to be the person Paul wants to love. Her future, she fears, is full of nothing but sorrow and sacrifice. At Easter, they walk together through the countryside to find daffodils. When Miriam carefully fondles the daffodils with interest, Paul is annoyed. He asks Miriam why she is so intensely fascinated with everything, accusing her of “always begging things to love [her]” (202). She sucks up love from everything, he believes, but does not give out love herself. Miriam is shocked by Paul’s cruel comments, though she does not understand the true meaning of his words. A short time later, Paul reiterates his belief that he can only give her “friendship” (205). Paul returns home afterward. Since William is dead, Gertrude clings desperately to Paul and cannot tolerate the time when he is away with Miriam. Despite his love for his mother, Paul feels a constant restlessness. The next week, he visits Miriam again. During their conversation, he asks whether she would ever be able to learn to love someone else. Paul confesses that he does not love Miriam “as a man ought to love his wife” (208). Miriam suggests that they are too young to be married and that they do not love each other enough. Paul feels despondent.

After this conversation, Paul is still friends with Miriam and her family. He visits often and attends church with them. Miriam invites Clara to her house; though her family finds Clara difficult, Paul is fascinated by her. He studies her appearance and makes conversation with her. Paul cannot understand, however, why Clara seems so aloof. Over tea, she tells Mrs. Leivers how she feels happy now that she is “free and independent” (215). Paul takes a walk with Clara and Miriam, during which Clara asks whether Paul would prefer to fight for a woman, rather than allow her to fight on her own behalf. When Paul answers that he would rather fight for a woman, Clara accuses him of being “too clever” (216). His flippant attitude tires her. As Clara examines a flower, Paul feels intensely attracted to her. He scatters flowers over her, and, though she is confused, Clara laughs.

Paul visits the town of Lincoln with his mother. As she sits beside him on the train, he notices how frail she seems. After an enjoyable visit to Lincoln, they eat a “wildly extravagant” meal (222). Paul buys violets for Gertrude’s coat. When they climb a hill, however, she struggles to reach the top. She struggles to speak, explaining that her heart is getting “a bit old” (223). As they drink tea, Paul speaks effusively about Clara, who is seven years older than the 23-year-old Paul. After hearing her son speaking about Clara’s defiance and anger, Gertrude wonders whether it is time for Paul to fall in love. Meanwhile, Annie is engaged to Leonard. He works in Birmingham, saving his money ahead of the wedding. When the wedding is brought forward, Arthur returns home from the army to visit, dressed in his uniform. The wedding takes place, and, afterward, Paul talks about his future with his mother, explaining that he will “never marry” (227), as he hopes to live with his mother as long as possible.

Arthur complains about life in the military, so Gertrude goes into her savings to pay for him to leave the army. Arthur is overjoyed, returning home and striking up his previous relationship with Beatrice. Like Annie, however, Arthur’s life has always been destined to continue “outside their mother’s house” (229). Paul is different. He cannot see himself living anywhere else, even though he feels some deep and unspecified yearning for something different. He speaks to Miriam about his dreams and despair while she listens attentively and lovingly. The next day, Clara joins Miriam, Miriam’s brothers, and Paul as they entertain themselves in the countryside by leaping over bales of hay. Amid the fun and the laughter, Paul flirts with Clara. Miriam watches, feeling hurt. She is concerned that Paul is being “unfaithful to himself” (231). After, Paul speaks to Miriam about his confused feelings. He views Miriam as his conscience, as she seems to hold only the “best of him” (231). He writes a letter to Miriam, in which he describes the platonic nature of their connection. He refers to her as a nun, praising their spiritual—but not sensual—bond. They cannot be married, he suggests, because their love is not the love of husband and wife. Though Paul privately feels sexual desires, he focuses these desires on Clara rather than Miriam.