Sons and Lovers

Lawrence’s third novel, published in 1913 might be termed a family saga, detailing the story of Gertrude Coppard’s unfulfilling marriage to Walter Morel and the subsequent fortunes of her two sons William and Paul. The dominant theme is the way a mother’s love can come to smother the relationships of her offspring and the sense that the mother’s own expectations – the fact that they weren’t fulfilled – can hinder those of her sons. While Sons and Lovers is now perceived as a great work of art, the initial reactions and, to a degree, Lawrence’s own appreciation, were dimmed when set against subsequent novels. Leavis felt that the autobiographical elements (it is felt the author was transmitting the disappointments of his own mother’s marriage), diminished the novel, but in the modern era the critics are convinced.