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Unit 22: D.H. Lawrence — Sons and Lovers : Detailed Study of Text

Analysis Notes
This chapter presents the conflict between logic, represented by Mrs. Morel, and religion,
represented by the Leivers. Paul feels simultaneously attracted and repelled by the fascinating
and different tone of life at the Leivers’ farm,
Miriam’s unpleasant relationship with her brothers causes her to speculate on the fundamental
differences between women and men. This may be an indication of the cruelty of her brothers
or of Miriam’s sensitivity, rather than of some actual difference between all men and women.
This chapter begins to suggest that Paul needs some connection beyond what he shares with
his mother. In his free time, Paul is a painter, and he still needs his mother to do his best work,
as he tells her. But Miriam allows him to take his work to another level; she makes him feel
an intensity he has never before experienced.
Miriam also seems to have some sense of this connection. She feels that, until she shows him
the rose bush, she will not fully have experienced it herself. The connection between Paul and
Miriam may be one reason that Mrs. Morel dislikes Miriam. “She could feel Paul being drawn
away by the girl.” She seems to view Miriam as direct competition for her son’s love and
attention.

Chapter 8: Strife in Love

Summary

Arthur enlists in the army on a whim, and then writes a letter to his mother to try to get out
of it. She is very upset and goes to the sergeant, but is not able to get him out of it. He does
not like the discipline of the army, but he has no choice.
Paul wins two first-prize awards in an exhibition for students’ work in the Castle, which
makes his mother very proud of him, and she goes to the Castle to see his work on display.

One day Paul meets Miriam in town with Clara Dawes, the daughter of an old friend of Mrs.
Leivers. The next time Paul sees Miriam, she asks him what he thinks of Clara. He tells her
that he likes her somewhat, and she sulks. He tells her that she is always too intense, and he
longs to kiss her but cannot. When he leaves, he invites her and Edgar to tea the next day and
she is happy. However, when he gets home and tells his mother, she is not pleased, and they
argue.

Paul feels torn between Miriam and his mother, and resents Miriam because she makes his
mother suffer. She feels hurt one day when he tells her he will not meet her before a party at
his house because “you know it’s only friendship.”
One Friday night while Paul is doing the baking, Miriam comes to call and, when she hangs
up her coat, he feels as though they live in the house together. He shows her a curtain he has
made for his mother, and gives her a cushion-cover in the same design that he has made for
her. They begin to talk about his work, and this is the time that Paul is happiest with Miriam.
They are then interrupted by Beatrice, a friend of the family, who makes fun of Miriam and
flirts with Paul until Miriam reminds him that he is supposed to be watching the bread. He
has burned one of the loaves, and then begins to feel somewhat guilty for ignoring Miriam.
On some level, though, he feels that she deserves it. They go over her French notebook, they
read a little bit, and he walks her home. When he returns, his mother and sister are waiting
for him and they have found the burnt loaf of bread. They are angry that he has been with
Miriam and his mother is ill. He reconciles with his mother and realizes that he loves her
more.

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 253