Struggle in the Characters of D.H. Lawrence

Pages:172-173
Vinod Kumar (Research Scholar, Singhainia University, Pacheri Beri, Jhunjhnu)

Throughout the novel, we gain a good understanding of what the character of Walter Morel is like, in certain parts, we can 100% empathise with Gertrude and understand her struggle and strife, yet there are moments in the text, when I for one, see Walter is the vulnerable, mis-understood character he really is. I believe he is the one, not Gertrude, who deserves the readers sympathy. We know Walter to be an alcoholic, and in all honesty a pretty poor father, however, we (well,I) can also see why he has become like this. Gertrude has a massive impact on Walters character, as throughout the novel, he becomes pushed further and further from his children, to the point where he is “hated” by them and “despised” by his wife.