Show that Sons and Lovers
is not an autobiography but an autobiographical novel.
Eminent critics including
Middleton Murry and Albert hold a consensus of opinions with regard to the fact
that the label, ‘autobiographical’ can safely be attributed to this superb
specimen of fiction, bearing the mark of Lawrence’s genius. The most salient
characteristic of the characters portrayed by Lawrence is according to Albert,
“the resemblance they bear to their creator.” In fact, Sons
and Lovers is one of the most autobiographical of English novels. D.H.
Lawrence is one of those great artists who write because of internal
compulsion, and in this way seek relief for their inner problems by
externalizing them in fiction. He had to endure great emotion stresses in youth
and face many urgent personal problems. He was a tortured soul for full forty
five years of himself and his writings are an expression of his inner
suffering, frustrations and emotional complexes. They are all in the nature of
personal revelations, some more, some less, but the autobiographical note runs
through them all. The most striking feature of Lawrence’s characters is that
they are projections of the novelist’s personalities, Paul morel in Sons
and Lovers, is clearly a projection of him. In his other characters, too
there are many similarities. They shark him darkness and bitterness of spirit
and like him they live passionately and fully.
It is a story of Midland
miner’s son, Paul Morel, who is Lawrence
himself, Walter morel and Mrs. Morel are the father and mother of Paul,
Lawrence’s alter ego. The father is an unrefined miner and the mother with
refinement and culture, “a superior woman.” The conflict between Mr. and Mrs.
Morel and the reactions of children are all transcripts from life. Miriam is
Jessie Chambers whom Lawrence met early in life, where he loved but with whom
he failed to establish satisfactory relations, owing largely to the influence
of his mother on him. His mother, too died of cancer like Mrs. Morel, the
mother of Paul Morel, and his brother Earnest Lawrence, too died
early in life as William in the story.
