Sons and Lovers Critical Review.

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Kristin Bell, Kari Iskowitz, Kristin Andrews, Carla Gottshall

Mrs. Stroh

Honors Communication Skills 12

10 March, 2002

Sons and Lovers Critical Review

1.) Millett, Kate. Commentary. Sons and Lovers. by D.H. Lawrence. New York: The Modern Library 1999

Kate Millett's critical review of Sons and Lovers was a positive one. She considered it a great novel because it was written from a deeply felt experience and Lawrence's knowledge of life. She noted that the story contained both superb naturalism and descriptive power. It contained dazzling examples of how men think women ought to think.
Kate Millett felt that the first had of Sons and Lovers is realized and the second part is deeply flawed because of Paul's endless scheming to disentangle himself from those who helped him the most. Lawrence is even described as using muddled explanations. She found two examples of contrast in Paul's rejection of Miriam. One is that he is afraid she will put him in her pocket and yet he felt she failed him by not seizing and claiming him when he told her to.
She commented that Paul Morel's relationship with his mother fits Freud's Oedipus complex- Paul felt passion towards his mother. Millett quoted Freud's prediction that "he who is a favorite of the mother becomes a conqueror." She says that Paul is just that. She considered him to be pompous as an adolescent because of his mother's encouragement.
Although Paul was described as a sensitive nice man, Millett saw through the Puritanism Lawrence was creating. She considered Paul to be callow in the way he treated Miriam and Clara. Millett found irony in him murdering his mother, who gave him life, so he could have more of his own. She found him to be self-sufficient, liking to be around women who were eager to serve him, yet disposing them when their time came. Women were the ones who prepared Paul's way into the world and each had their own role, but no woman was strong enough to offset his mother's control.
Lawrence tacked on the end of the book for no reason. Millett disagreed that Paul felt suicidal. She thought he was in a brilliant condition ready to start a new adventure. He would not have been overcome with that much sadness.
Kate Millett felt that the book was a great tribute to Lawrence's mother and a moving record of the love of his life.

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2.) Mittleman, Leslie B. “Sons and Lovers” Magill’s Survey of World Literature.
Ed. Frank N. Magill. vol 4. New York: Marshall Cavendish Corporation,
1993. 1125-1126.


By definition an apprenticeship novel should direct the protagonist through
a series of lessons so that he can answer important questions about himself,
love, life, and the vocation he should pursue. The main character is
manipulated through a series of often painful, youthful experiences that
take him from innocence and naivete about love and life to knowledge and
understanding, from ignorance of himself to self-revelation and
understanding, and from uncertainty of life vocation to ...

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