Prose and Style in Sons and Lovers :: Lawrence Sons and Lovers Essays

1And after such an evening they both were very still, having k at a timen the immensity of passion. 2They felt small, half afraid, childish, and wondering, like Adam and eve when they lost their innocence and realized the magnificence of the power which drove them out of Paradise and across the great night and the great day of humanity. 3It was for each of them an insane asylum and a satisfaction. 4To know their own nullness, to know the tremendous living flood which carried them always, gave them rest within themselves. 5If so great a magnificent power could deluge them, identify them all together with itself, so that they knew they were only grains in the tremendous heave that lifted every grass-blade its little height, and every tree, and living thing, then wherefore fret about themselves? 6They could let themselves be carried by life, and they felt a sort of peace each in the other. 7There was a verification which they had had together. 8Nothing could nullify it, no thing could take it away it was almost their belief in life. 9But Clara was not satisfied. 10Something great was there, she knew something great enveloped her. 11But it did not give her. 12In the morning it was not the same. 13They had known, but she could not keep the moment. 14She wanted it again she wanted something permanent. 15She had not realized fully. 16She thought it was he whom she wanted. 17He was not safe to her. 18This that had been between them might never be again he might leave her. 19She had not got him she was not satisfied. 20She had been there, but she had not gripped the-the something-she knew not what-which she was mad to have. (336-337) This passage, from D.H. Lawrences novel, Sons and Lovers, describes the thoughts of Paul Morel and Clara Dawes after they have spent an evening of passion together. It is now that Paul and Clara realize that they are not able to fulfill each others needs adequately. Most of the sentences are complex, illustrati ng the complexity of the situation and the characters thoughts, yet the speech is naive and descriptive. Lawrences can be seen by examining the diction, grammar, and the rhythm and sound devices.