Mother’s Love as Impediment to the Sons’ Emotional Development in Sons and Lovers

Abstract

This paper intends to explore mother’s extravagant love which negatively shapes the son’s emotional responses and, consequently, diverts his emotional development from its fulfilling normal course. In exposing this governing idea of possessive love which deplorably informs the human predicament in Sons and Lovers and, which organises the narrative text, Lawrence recognises that which eventually encourage human emancipation. It is true that Lawrence has not yet discovered his technique in Sons and Lovers in the way Schorer argues for[1] - he frequently falls on colourful depiction of setting, on natural phenomena to reveal psychic states, on earnest qualifications that verge on preaching … etc. - but it is equally true that he has been thematically and creatively aware of that which distorts human life and makes man impotent. The rejection of negative states such as dependence, possessiveness, rationalism etc, Lawrence argues, will realise that rhythm of life which makes man wholesome.