The extract that is critically anyalysed in the following ssay gives insight into how Sons and Lovers is an example of a Bildungsroman as the extract allows for the readers to have understanding of the relationships in the novel. This essay will critical anyalye, as well as discuss the relationships Paul Morel has with his mother, Mrs. Morel, as well as the relationship Paul has with his first love Miriam. The following essay will also discuss the stylistic aspects reflected in the passage for example the use of imagery of flowers as well as the use of the different colours in the extract.
In the first paragraph of the extract, the tension between Paul and Mrs. Morel s described as “there was between him and his mother a peculiar condition of people frankly finding fault with each other” (Lawrence,  1994:337). This tension build up between Paul and Mrs. Morel is due to Paul’s ongoing relationship with Miriam. Mrs. Morel “did not care for Miriam” (Lawrence,  1994: 337) as she felt that Paul was being drawn away by this girl”(Lawrence,  1994:337). In D. H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers, the bond between mother and son is exemplified in a profound way.
However, Mrs. Morel’s relationship with her sons, especially Paul, proves to be harmful to the growth of her sons. Paul Morel’s imprisoning relationship with his mother cripples all his other relationships. This is evident in this extract when Mrs. Morel decides, “he [Paul] is not going to stick to  1994:337). The relationship between Mrs. Morel and Paul, allows for Mrs. Morel to have a sense of control over her son. Even though Paul is aware of his mother’s feelings towards Miriam he continues with the relationship, which causes tension between Mrs.
Morel and Paul. Paul eventually feels torn between Miriam and his mother, and resents Miriam because she makes his mother suffer. In the first aragraph of the extract Mrs. Morel is aware of Paul’s conflicting feelings towards Miriam as she knows that it had been coming for a long time, this bursting of the storm in him” (Lawrence,  1994: 337). Mrs. Morel however feels that Paul will “come back to her” (Lawrence,  1994:337). There was a peculiar condition of suspense between Mrs.
Morel and Paul in the evening Paul decides to inform his mother that he will “break it off with This suspense is due to Paul’s torn feelings between Miriam and his mother. Paul feels the need to “escape from himselff (Lawrence, (1 925] 1994: 337) as hese feelings are consuming him. Paul however is reminded of his mother as “through the open door, stealthily, came the scent of Madonna lilies” (Lawrence,  1994: 337). The use of the literary technique pathetic fallacy is used, which according to English glossary terms means the attributing of human emotion and conduct to all aspects within nature.
Lawrence uses this technique to describe Mrs. Morel as well as describe the time of year in which Paul decides to break it off with Miriam. The scent of Madonna lilies can be said to be a scent of early days of spring, feminine and graceful. The days of spring is the time of year that Paul tells Mrs. Morel that he no longer wants a relationship with Miriam, the reader is reminded of this when Lawrence uses the Madonna lilies to describe the atmosphere. The Madonna lilies are used by Lawrence to describe Mrs. Morel as well. Mrs.
Morel is said to be a graceful lady that comes from a high class, which relates to the idea that lilies are seen of higher class in the flower family. It is said that the scent of lilies is around “almost as if it were prowling abroad” (Lawrence,  1 994:337). This describes how Paul feels that his other is moving around the house restlessly and stealthily, especially in search of or as if in search of prey which Paul feels is himself. Mrs. Morel sees Paul as prey since she is trying to take him back from Miriam as Mrs.
Morel see Paul as hers. In paragraph two of the extract, Paul goes outside where he sees “a half-moon, dusky gold, sinking” (Lawrence,  1994:337). The moon sinking is a symbolic representation Lawrence’s uses to describe Paul’s sinking relationship with Miriam. Paul and Miriam’s relationship sinks because Paul does not feel sexually connected to Miriam. Lawrence’s use of nature in his descriptions is frequently roticized, both to indicate sexual energy and to slip pass the censors in Lawrence’s repressive time (Lawrence,  1 994:337).
The moon sinks “behind the black sycamore at the end of the garden”(Lawrence,  1994:337). The sycamore tree is seen as the tree of protection, which in this case describes how Mrs. Morel’s relationship with Paul is protecting him from loving another woman that is not herself. The sycamore is at the end of garden, this suggest that Paul does not often see how unusual his relationship with his mother is but subconsciously he is aware that the love he has for Mrs. Morel is one of the reasons why he is unable to love any other woman.
The sycamore tree is said to be black. Since black has a negative connotation to it, it then best describes the negative implications that occur in Paul’s life due to Mrs. Morel’s unusual love for Paul. “Sometimes he hated her, and pulled at her bondage. His life wanted to free itself of her. It was like a circle where life turned back on itself, and got no further. She bore him, loved him, kept him, and his love turned back into her, so that he could not be free to go forward with his own life, really love another woman” (389)