Oedipus Complex in Sons and Lovers

 

It was Freud the modern psychologist who built up the theory of the Oedipus Complex based on the ancient myth of Oedipus Rex of Thebes. To explain his theory he says that a mother’s love for her son and a son’s love for his mother are fundamentally based upon the attraction between opposite sexes. D. H. Lawrence is a great novelist of human psychology. He has drawn many distinguishing characters in his novels. The relationship between Paul and his mother is an “Oedipus Complex” case in Sons and Lovers. 

William had been Mrs Morel’s favourite son. She had been lavishing all her love and affection upon him. She had been cherishing high ambitions about his future. Especially she had felt proud when he got a job in London on a decent salary. She felt a little disappointed when he fell in love with a superficial girl, Lily Western. William had loved his mother deeply too. That is why he kept writing loving letters to his mother when he went to London. Now, the love between William and Mrs Morel was not a case of ordinary love between a mother and her son.

After the death of her oldest son, Paul becomes the focus of her life. But Paul has a love relationship with Miriam. Mrs Morel does not tolerate the absorbing nature of Miriam. Mrs Morel thinks that she is becoming neglected by her son Paul because of his relationship with Miriam. She again and again tells that she cannot bear it at any cost. At that time, Paul tries to console his mother by telling her that he loves his mother, not Miriam. His home with his mother is the real centre of attraction. But his mother cannot understand it. Even she says that she can let another woman for her son but not Miriam because she leaves no room, but a bit of room for

Mrs Morel's love for Paul had an element of anguish in it because she always felt uneasy over the thought that Paul was wasting his time and energy over the wrong girl. Later, Mrs Morel wanted Paul to give up his friendship even with Clara because Clara was married. Paul had developed a sexual relationship with Miriam, but he could not discuss this matter with his mother. At the same time, he had developed a sexual relationship with Clara; he could not discuss the subject with his mother. It was another part of the "Oedipus Complex”.

There is another  "Oedipus Complex" touch in Paul's love relationship with his mother. His love for her even proved an obstacle in the way of his loving any other woman in a normal manner. When she felt ill, he again showed extraordinary devotion to her. During her illness, he had no peace of mind at all. Tears would flow from his eyes when he saw her suffering. He spoke to Clara about his mother's lingering illness. All day long he was very worried about his mother. It was a long pain which made him feel feverish. He often addressed his mother as "Pigeon" and "my little", as if she were his sweetheart and sweet lover.

Thus the days passed, the weeks, and the months. When his mother died, Paul felt that his life is empty and meaningless. It was with great effort that he was able to persuade himself that his mother was still alive. It was this feeling which saved him from despair and from suicide.

To sum up, we can say that the "Oedipus Complex" is a leading theme of this novel. Actually, the novelist has not invented this relationship; he has only described his own experience with his mother. Paul is D H. Lawrence himself; and Paul's mother is Lawrence's own mother. So we may say that the central theme of Sons and Lovers may best be described as the "Oedipus Complex”.