Sons and Lovers

Summary of the novel Sons and Lovers.

The novel Sons and Lovers begins with the description of the "Bottoms", now "Hell Row" where mining is the village's most prominent occupation. The reader is introduced to the main characters the peculiar Morels, a nuclear family whom for three weeks are now residing in their new home. The couple has two children William, seven years old, and Annie, age five and is expecting their third child. A fair is occurring and the anxious William attends in the morning returning by mid-day only to return to the fair with his mother and sister.  He impresses his mother by presenting her with two-egg cups which he had won. After his mother and sister left him at the fair William found himself missing his mother more than he had hoped. Later on that night after Mrs. Morel puts her children and awaits her husband’s arrival, she reflects with disappointment on her current situation. She detests her current economic standing which is not stable enough to foster a third child. Her husband’s drunken behavior is another factor to her disappointment. Among her regrets she finds solace in her children. Meanwhile, as Gertrude carries out her duties  cleaning, her husband comes home in his usual drunken state offering tokens as so to excuse his drunken stupor. Frustrated by his denial of his obvious state Gertrude retires to bed.

As the chapter proceeds, Gertrude reminisces on events in her past. The first incident of flashback occurred when she thinks of her old friend John Field who gave her her first bible, which she has kept to the present day. She is hurt seeing that they have lost all contact. Nevertheless, She remembers telling him to be strong and decide his own faith which she assumed was simple because of his gender. He strongly reminds her that being a man is not so simple.The second flashback occurs as Gertrude meets her husband, Walter Morel at a Christmas party. She remembers his instant connection to her and after her rejection he was persistent to gain her attention.  She recalls their happy marriage when they married the next Christmas.

However, the first evidence of conflict in the marriage arrives when Gertrude recovers unpaid bills in her husband’s pocket. In an attempt to resolve the matter she confronts he simply ignores her. To be consoled she visits his mother who shares her condition in the similar ordeal. This made Gertrude even colder and distant from her husband. The second conflict arose as Walter decides to accompany his friend Jerry Purdy, whom Gertrude disapproves of, to all the pubs in Nottingham. Mr. Morel after falling ill retires in a field.

The chapter concludes as Mr. Morel returns home frustrated, they continue to spatter and the drunken Walter locks his wife outside of her home and retires to his nap. After a few failed attempts to try and wake her drunken husband, Gertrude finally succeeds.