A psychoanalytic reading of D.H. Lawrence's sons and lovers and lady Chatterley's lover

Abstract

This paper talks about how the psychoanalytical approach could be used in literature to interpret the text, to understand the psychological development of the character and the psyche of the author. Lawrence, being inspired by Freud has produced works like Sons and Lovers, Lady Chatterley’s Lover, etc. that cries out for psychoanalytical interpretation of the text. In the novel Sons and Lover, the paper focuses on how the over the domineering power of the love of a mother and how her jealousy restricts her son's desire for other women? Ultimately the mother wins by her blood ties over another woman? Also how the early psychological development of the child affects their personality in the later stage of life? In Lady Chatterley’s Lover, we see how Connie’s repressed sexual desires led her to infidelity in spite of the class difference. Unhappy in married life, due to her husband’s physical disability, Connie has suppressed her desire for a long time. These suppressed desires came out in the form of an outburst of emotions when she sees Mellor. Being driven by the psychic energy or libido, led her to establish sexual affair with the lower class servant and moral dilemma out of her superego.