D.
H. Lawrence makes an extensive use of symbols in his Sons and Lovers. Symbolism
means investing a remark or a situation or an incident or an object or even a
person with a double significance or a two-fold meaning. One meaning lies on
the very surface and is easily understood by the reader. The other or symbolic meaning
is hidden in the writing and becomes known to the reader only after a good deal
of thought. D. H. Lawrence probes deep into the consciousness of his characters
with a clever use of symbols. A proper understanding of these symbols leads to
a better understanding of the novel and arises appreciation from the reader. Symbolism
is an essential feature of Lawrence’s
art, because a symbol “is the expression of a thing not to be characterized in
any other better way.” Thus, in order to clearly describe the hidden and the
concealed, Lawrence
makes use of symbols which in their turn also increase the expressiveness of
his language.
There
is an abundance of symbols in Sons and Lovers; and practically
all the symbolism here has consciously been introduced by the author. Now let’s
turn to some of the symbols used by D. H. Lawrence.
The
symbol of the Ash-Tree
The
ash-tree has been effectively used by Lawrence
to describe the sinister and dark aspects of life. It is symbolic of the dark,
mysterious forces of nature which are the foreboders of tragedy in human-life.
It is symbolic of the disharmony that exists between the husband and wife in
the Morel family. The persistent bickering of the parents becomes a terror for
the children, who lying awake upstairs are unable to coherently apprehend as to
what would happen ultimately. The tree becomes a symbol of the inner terror of
children who strike and moan inwardly. It also prophesies the future doom which
is to beset the Morel family.
The
Symbol of the Coal-pits
The
entire life of the mining community depicted in the novel depends upon the
coal-pits which stand on the horizon. The coat-pits are not indispensable for a
better understanding of the novel but they are symbolic of a particular
attitude towards life. Walter Morel with his irrational life principle has a
close association with them. The descent and ascent of the coal pits is a
symbol of the sexual rhythm or a rhythm of sleep and awakening. The naturalness
of the coal pits stand in contrast against the artificial way of life of the
sophisticated people.
The
symbol of the Swing
The
Swing at Willey Farm is symbolic of the love-hate relation that is
characteristic of Paul-Miriam relationship. Similar to the background and
forward movement of the swing, Paul loves Miriam for one thing but suddenly
hates her for another. Though, his hatred for her is also transitory and is
soon replaced with love. Hence, the movement of the swing symbolizes, the two
extremes of their attitude towards each other i.e. love for one moment and hate
the other moment. It is also expressive of their inability to hold on to each
other for a very long time.
Miriam’s
inability to attain a certain height on the swing as Paul does is significant
of her sexual frigidity. As on the swing she fails to attain the sexual heights
in her physical relationship with Paul and performs it as a religious duty.
Thus, she fails to provide Paul with the physical fulfillment that he is
desirous of.
The symbol of the Hens
The
symbolic pecking of the hens at the hands of Paul and Miriam stands in
juxtaposition to the sexuality thwarted relationship that Miriam is going to
have with Paul in the later part of the novel. Miriam’s sexual inhibition is
emphasized here; in spite of Paul’s persistence that it does not hurt it only
nips, Miriam is afraid to let the hen peck at her hand. This scene symbolically
forecasts the disastrous failure that Miriam is going to face in attaining
sexual fulfillment with Paul.
The Symbol of the blood tie between
Paul and Mrs Morel
In
the very beginning of the novel when Mrs. Morel has a quarrel with her husband,
in an outrage of anger she is hit with a drawer which is flung at her. The
wound bleeds profusely and two drops of blood fall on the hair of Paul who is
in the hands of Mrs.Morel at the moment. The blood is not cleared away but it
gets soaked in to the scalp of Paul. This small incident is symbolic of the
disillusioned and tattering relationship of the husband and wife and the
subsequent reversal of attitude of Mrs Morel towards her husband and the
ultimate substitution of her sons in place of her husband. The scene is also symbolic of the contract of
soul between the mother and son which is sealed with a blood tie.
The
symbol of the Orange Moon
The
emotional lives of the characters of Lawrence
are much influenced by the active participation of nature. Walking together one
evening Paul and Miriam witness a large orange moon staring at them. The
passion in Paul is aroused by the sight of the moon. Though Miriam is also
deeply moved but Paul fails to get across to her. Violent sexual passion is
aroused in Paul, thus the orange moon becomes a symbol of the aroused passion
in Paul.
Nature’s
Benediction
Lawrence makes nature send its benediction on his
characters who wish to live willfully or upon those who wish to attain
happiness through their vital instinct. Before the birth of Paul, Mrs Morel is
once shut out of the house after a
quarrel, by her husband into the garden, here she feels the presence of nature
under the “blinding” August moon. She is expecting Paul and she feels herself melting
away I the moon light along with the child. Later when she is allowed into the
house by Morel, she smiles upon herself seeking her face smeared with the
pollen dust of lilies. The yellow dust is symbolic of the kiss of benediction
for both the mother and hild and it also confirms their vitality.
Similarly
on another occasion when Paul rises after making love to Clara on the bank of
the river. There lie on the ground many scarlet, carnation petals like splashed
drops of blood, and red small splashes fall from her bosom, streaming down her
dress to her feet. This is again symbolic of the benediction of flowers
showered upon them for their perfect union. In still another occasion, the rose
bush is used as a symbol of the witness to the spiritual communion of Paul and
Miriam which they achieve while watching the rose bush together in perfect harmony.
Symbols
of Flowers
The
most important of the flower symbols are presented in the scene where Clara has
just been introduced to Paul by Miriam. All three of them walk in an open field
with its many “clusters of strong flowers” they begin to pick flowers. Though,
there is natural beauty in flowers that Paul picks, yet he picks them
scientifically. He has a spontaneous and direct contact with the flowers.
Miriam, though she picks the flowers lovingly and reverentially yet she seems
to derive the life out of them. Her bunches lack elegance. But Clara does not
pick them at all, defiantly asserting that flowers should not be picked because
it kills them.
Thus,
on a closer reading of these floral symbols one feels, that it depicts the
attitude of various characters towards life. Mrs. Morel has a vital and healthy
attitude towards flowers. The scenes where Paul brings her flowers are warm and
gay. Since the love of Paul and Miriam develops in the midst of natural
surroundings, the flower is symbolic of its freshness and innocence. They also
symbolize the beauty ad youth of Miriam.
There
are various other symbols of the burned potatoes symbolizing Miriam’s total
absorption in Paul. On the other had the charred bread symbolizes Paul’s total
absorption in Miriam. Hope and optimism are symbolized at the end of the novel
with the help of the gold phosphorescence of the city. Hence, the symbolism
uses in Sons and Lovers is quite
simple and easy to understand. They are in no way complex but rather help to a
better understanding of the novel.