Who has your sympathy?

Mrs Morel and Paul are the major characters in 'Sons and Lovers'. Yet Mrs Morel is even less likable than her son Paul.

Objectionable is the smothering of her sons, her sustained vendetta against Miriam, and her pretentious bias in alienating her husband from both his sons. She soon drives Morel to drink and dissipation. Clara's treatment of her husband is little better. Mrs Morel death is a blessing in more ways than one.

At the end of the book, we have as much sympathy for the drunkards, Baxter Dawes and Morel, as for anyone. But perhaps that's true to life.

I really did not feel sorry for Baxtar, though he was not within the story much, I cannot say I really cared for him. But nor did I like Clara, though my dislike for her stemmed more to the fact I thought she betrayed Miriam with her flirtation with Paul.

Out of everyone in the book Miriam had my sympathy the most. There were times when I was sympahtic to Mr. Morel, but I did not find him completly without guilt of his own.

Baxter and Morel (and perhaps Miriam) were capable of wholehearted commitment to another - something Paul and his mother could never have. Both Baxter and Morel were undermined from the beginning by their wives, and life became a battle, a tragedy.

Miriam always gets my sympathy. :)

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Originally Posted by Gladys

Baxter and Morel (and perhaps Miriam) were capable of wholehearted commitment to another - something Paul and his mother could never have. Both Baxter and Morel were undermined from the beginning by their wives, and life became a battle, a tragedy.

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Morel is still responseable for some of his own actions, and no matter what his wife had done, that does not excuse all of his behavior.

I found Miriam the most likeable character. Mrs Morel got on my nerves a bit and I didn't like some of the things that Paul did.

It's funny, I think the true test of a man is in his taste of women.

Like mother, like son?

Morel, the miner, becomes more and more likable.

Miriam, but I did feel sorry for Paul a little bit.