# Gertrude Morel — Sons and Lovers character guide > Gertrude Morel in Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mrs. Morel, Morel, Gertrude, Gertrude Morel, Mrs. Morel—Gertrude—was **First appearance:** 0000-part-i-i-the-early-married-life-of-the-morels ## Snapshot A chapel-bred woman of resolute bearing who married beneath her class and poured the love she withdrew from her husband into her sons, especially Paul. ## Who they are Mrs. Morel is the moral center of the Morel house on the Bottoms, a small, delicate woman whose will hardens as her husband's drinking and carelessness wear her down. After the birth of her third child she turns from Walter with a tide that 'scarcely rose,' redirecting her hunger for life into William, Annie, Paul, and Arthur. Her possessive tenderness shapes Paul's ambitions and cripples his romances, making her the quiet force against which every other love in the novel must measure itself. ## Relationships ### [Paul Morel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/paul_morel) _family_ Possessive, emotionally consuming mother-son bond that stifles Paul's independence and romantic life. ### [Miriam Leivers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/miriam_leivers) _rivalry_ Hostile relationship as Gertrude sees Miriam as a threat to her hold over Paul. ### [Clara Dawes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/clara_dawes) _social_ Tense acquaintanceship, with Gertrude disapproving of Clara's affair with Paul. ### [Walter Morel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/walter_morel) _family_ Bitter, estranged marriage defined by Gertrude's contempt and Walter's drunkenness. ### [Paul Morel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/paul_morel) _family_ Possessive, emotionally consuming mother-son bond that stifles Paul's independence and romantic life. ### [Miriam Leivers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/miriam_leivers) _rivalry_ Hostile relationship as Gertrude sees Miriam as a threat to her hold over Paul. ### [Walter Morel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/walter_morel) _family_ Bitter, estranged marriage defined by Gertrude's contempt and Walter's drunkenness. ### [Paul Morel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/paul_morel) _family_ Possessive, emotionally consuming mother-son bond that stifles Paul's independence and romantic life. ### [Clara Dawes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/clara_dawes) _social_ Tense acquaintanceship, with Gertrude disapproving of Clara's affair with Paul. ### [Walter Morel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/walter_morel) _family_ Bitter, estranged marriage defined by Gertrude's contempt and Walter's drunkenness. ### [Clara Dawes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/clara_dawes) _social_ Tense acquaintanceship, with Gertrude disapproving of Clara's affair with Paul. ### [Miriam Leivers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/miriam_leivers) _rivalry_ Hostile relationship as Gertrude sees Miriam as a threat to her hold over Paul. ## In the story ### [I: The Early Married Life of the Morels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-i-i-the-early-married-life-of-the-morels) The protagonist's mother, a proud and morally strict woman, who becomes increasingly alienated from her husband and invests her love in her children. ### [II: The Birth of Paul, and Another Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-i-ii-the-birth-of-paul-and-another-battle) Discovers the theft, confronts her husband, and endures his silent resentment; she remains strong and contemptuous. ### [III: The Casting Off of Morel—The Taking on of William](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-i-iii-the-casting-off-of-morel-the-taking-on-of-william) Defends William against his father's wrath, joins the Women's Guild, and channels her ambitions into her son's future. ### [IV: The Young Life of Paul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-i-iv-the-young-life-of-paul) Suffers intensely from her husband's drinking and transmits her anxiety to the children; she is the emotional center of the household. ### [Paul Launches Into Life](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-i-v-paul-launches-into-life) Mrs. Morel supports Paul's job search and later rushes to tend to her husband Walter after his leg injury, expressing frustration at his carelessness. ### [Death in the Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-i-vi-death-in-the-family) Clings to Paul, unburdens herself to him, disapproves of William's fiancée, worries about William's health, devastated by his death. ### [Lad-and-Girl Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-ii-vii-lad-and-girl-love) Disapproves of Miriam; feels Paul is being drawn away; expresses jealousy and anger; worries about Paul's late nights and his relationship with Miriam. ### [Strife in Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-strife-in-love) Bitterly jealous of Miriam; suffers emotionally; faints during the fight between Paul and Walter. ### [IX: Defeat of Miriam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-ii-ix-defeat-of-miriam) Paul's deepest love belongs to her; she is away visiting friends during the chapter. ### [X: Clara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-ii-x-clara) Fights for Paul's happiness, despairs over his indecision, and prays he won't be wasted. ### [XI: The Test on Miriam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-ii-xi-the-test-on-miriam) Mrs. Morel observes Paul's return to Miriam with bitterness and feels discarded. She waits on him but grows cold, recognizing the uselessness of interference. ### [XII: Passion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-ii-xii-passion) Hosts Clara for tea, measures herself against her, and discusses Miriam critically with Clara. ### [XIII: Baxter Dawes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii-baxter-dawes) Ill and distant; agrees to stay with Annie in Sheffield; Paul finds her in bed, looking ashen, leading to his emotional breakdown. ### [XIV: The Release](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv-the-release) Though deceased, her powerful will and refusal to die haunt Paul; she is buried in a storm, and her presence lingers. ### [XV: Derelict](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/chapters/part-ii-xv-derelict) Gertrude is dead, but her memory haunts Paul. He recalls her sickroom and her eyes, and he unconsciously feels he has been with her. Her death is the central loss driving his dereliction. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters/gertrude_morel - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sons_and_lovers_se/characters