While in D. H. Lawrence’s
novel Sons and Lovers the struggling relationship revolves
around Paul Morel and his mother Mrs. Morel, in Women in Love the
challenging relationship revolves around the four main characters Ursula,
Gudrun, Rupert and Gerald. Through the writing in both of these novels it
becomes possible for an audience of readers to make an overall conclusion in
how unsatisfied and subconsciously angered these differing characters are in
their lives. While each of the relationships differ to a certain extent,
nevertheless both of these works exhibit similar yet varying notions about
individuals agonizing struggles between inferiority, concealed anger and the
incompetence to be self-fulfilled.
In the novel Sons
and Lovers Gertrude Morel is surrounded by men in her life yet the one
who should mean the most to her is the least fulfilling. In turn this causes
Mrs. Morel to turn to her eldest sons in hope of finding self-fulfillment. It
is after William’s death, that Mrs. Morel leans toward Paul for the support and
love that she fails to receive from her husband. The relationship between Paul
Morel and his mother immediately begins to provoke feelings of jealousy and the
underlying destructive relationships that exist between men and women. While
Mrs. Morel forcefully leans toward Paul for love she inadvertently causes
resentment from him as well. On behalf of Mrs. Morel, it is her incompetence to
let Paul experience life and find a love of his own that causes Paul great
destruction in his life.
