Manifestation of Oedipus Complex in Dh Lawrence’s Works

Abstract

Environment and current situation or thought a man finds himself at any time affect his psyche. The ancient Greeks associate psyche with Eros and both form the allegory of life. As love combines psyche and Eros, it links Oedipus complex and Electra complex to some forms of love such as ludus, mania or storge. The manifestation of this complex in Sons and Lovers is observed under the lens of psychoanalytic theory to pinpoint illustrations of desire for sexual involvement with any parent of opposite sex. The current research aims at enlightening the dangerous drawbacks linked to such a relationship between son and his mother. It is observed that the Oedipus complex qualifies Paul’s relationships with his mother and with other women mainly, Miriam and Clara. The Freudian theory and psychoanalytic theory will be used to analyze the issue on the protagonist Paul as well as on his mother Gertrude in Son and Lovers and other novels by DH Lawrence.