Intimate Imperialism: Maternal Power and Emotional Colonization in Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers

Abstract

This paper aims to present that maternal love in Lawrence’s novel Sons and Lovers is nothing but an emotional dominance. It goes beyond the conventional interpretation of maternal love. This study moves beyond the traditional Freudian interpretation of the Oedipus complex. It aims to present a deeper understanding of the maternal love of Mrs. Gertrude Morel for Paul. It reflects as a form of sustained emotional colonization, where love becomes a form of control and dependency. It encapsulates Michel Foucault’s understanding of power as diffuse, internalized, and self-perpetuating. This study aims to present maternal love as a form of power that is not coercion, but it is emotional colonization through love, guilt, silence, and ethical authority. This paper utilizes Said’s understanding of hegemony; this study explores maternal love as a form of intimate imperialism, where maternal love becomes a form of emotional dominance. This study examines a close textual analysis to showcase a deeper understanding of the ways through which emotional colonization leads towards possession. That’s why Paul’s emotional development takes a pause even after Mrs. Morel dies. This study aims to present that Lawrence’s description of maternal love is dominating in nature. Love has always been understood to be selfless and liberating force in the family.