Revisiting the Oedipus complex in D.H. Lawrence's "Sons and Lovers": A Psychoanalytic Study of Paul Morel

Author(s): Nandini K Janbandhu

Abstract:

In the analysis of Sons and Lovers, the novel is a representation and example of the complexities of human relationships. This paper aims to analyses D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers through the ideas of Sigmund Freud. In the novel Sons and Lovers, the paper focuses on how the domineering power of a mother's love and her jealousy restricts her son's life. This paper analyses the themes of the Oedipus complex and examines how unconscious desires influence Paul Morel's behavior and lead to his failure in achieving emotional independence. The novel presents a psychological conflict. This study uses a qualitative textual analysis of Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence. The study uses close reading and analysis to understand the complex issues presented in the novel. Sons and Lovers is basically a tale about how our earliest emotional connection especially those within family can deeply complicate our ability to mature and connect with other. The entire story revolves around Paul, whose intense and suffocating bond with his mother keeps him stuck in life and he never gets a chance to search who he really is. The analysis conveys the Freudian concepts such as Oedipus complex. The novel presents a complicated psychological conflict that goes beyond one family’s story, making it timeless, relatable, universal and an extremely relevant work of literature.

keywords:
D.H. Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, Oedipus complex, Freudian theory.

Pages: 05-06     |    24 View     |    2 Download