If you were to judge Lawrence's views on drugs and alcohol by this book alone, you'd guess that he didn't believe people could use such substances in moderation. In Sons and Lovers, Lawrence suggests that a man is either a total drunk, or he never drinks a drop. The most obvious example of an alcoholic in the book is Walter Morel, whose boozin' habits destroy his relationship to his family. The equally alcoholic Baxter Dawes might be understood as a redeemable version of Walter, since Paul seems to help Baxter overcome his substance abuse problem. Do you think it's possible to overcome an addiction, Shmoopers?
Questions About Drugs and Alcohol
- Do you think that Walter Morel would still have turned out to be an abusive father and husband if he didn't drink alcohol? Use specific examples from the text to support your answer.
- To what extent are the characters in this book who drink or take drugs aware that they're killing themselves? Why do they keep up these harmful habits anyway?
- Why does Walter Morel go from not drinking any alcohol at all to being the local bar's best customer? What drives him back to booze?
Chew on This
For Lawrence, drugs and alcohol are types of spiritual painkillers: they help people cope with the pain of living in a cold, fickle modern world.
In Sons and Lovers, Lawrence shows no sympathy for people who drink or use drugs. He portrays all of these characters as selfish and irresponsible.