D. H. Lawrence, 1913
Date Read: 3/11/23
I devoured this novel. Couldn't put it down. I like the writing style, the pacing, the characters. I struggled a little with the phonetic dialog. Thankfully, the footnotes translate the Nottinghamshire dialect lol
Parts of this novel tell me exactly how Lawrence grew up. As a child of an alcoholic, I know those scenes. However, the fear and oppression of the father reminded me of my ex husband. I rarely dreaded my dad coming home. My ex husband, well I still have CPTD.
Without too many spoilers, this is a very Oedipedal story. My husband thought all Lawrence novels were filthy but, thankfully, this one wasn't. There is sex but it is hinted at rather than described.
A few things I noticed was that Paul's last name is Morel, which is a mushroom. Paul is rather like a mushroom. He grows in the dark and shelter of his mother. He's soft and squidgy, unable to handle emotional life.
I also noted that both Paul and William, who went to a good school, had the Cambridge habit of calling their mother 'Mater'. I think that's supposed to indicate their removal to a higher class of living than they were born to.
Paul's emotional stunting is due to his mother's oppressive and needy love. Unfortunately, I felt this, too. I had a co dependent relationship with my mother as well. It...doesn't help you grow up.
Three of my five grandparents died slow, painful deaths from cancer. Many times, we all wished we could overdose them on morphine like Paul does his mother. The suffering is awful and shouldn't be allowed. Let me share here an organization working to make euthanasia legal in New York: https://deathwithdignity.org/states/new-york/
Paul was often reprehensible. Worse to women than James Bond lol but still a sympathetic character.
Some people find Lawrence too preachy and didactic but like I said, I loved this novel.
Length: 397 pages in Alma Classics paperback
Rereadability: yes
Classic: I think so, yes!
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