Question

Write a note on the conflicting loyalties of Paul Morel

Answer 1

At first, it looks like this book is going to be William Morel this, William Morel that. But hey, the guy drops dead pretty early in the plot, which leaves us with the question of who's going to step up and be our main character. Enter Paul Morel, the quiet and artistic second son of Gertrude (Mrs. Morel).

Just after William dies, Paul actually gets really sick himself. Nursing Paul back to health distracts Mrs. Morel from the loss of William, and an intense bond forms between Mrs. Morel and her son Paul: "The two knitted together in perfect intimacy" (6.486).

And in case this bit of narration isn't straightforward enough, the narrator adds that "Mrs. Morel's life now rooted itself in Paul" (6.486). In other words, Mrs. Morel completely uses Paul as a replacement for her favorite son, William. And, as Lawrence hints, this is not a good way to forge a healthy mother-son relationship.