Sons and Lovers · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence.
Paul Morel
major
Also known as Paul, Morel, young Mr. Morel, Paul Morel, Mr. Paul Morel
Protagonist and aspiring artist, son of Gertrude and Walter Morel.
Gertrude Morel
major
Also known as Mrs. Morel, Morel, Gertrude, Gertrude Morel, Mrs. Morel—Gertrude—was
Paul's strong-willed mother, central to his emotional life.
Miriam Leivers
major
Also known as Miriam, Leivers, Miriam Leivers, Miriam Paul
Paul's intense, spiritual first love from the Leivers farm.
Clara Dawes
major
Also known as Clara, Clara Dawes, X Clara, Hill Clara
Paul's passionate lover, a suffragette separated from her husband.
Walter Morel
supporting
Also known as Walter, Walt, Morel, Walter Morel
Paul's father, a miner whose drinking strains the family.
William Morel
supporting
Also known as William, Willy, William Morel, Billy Pillins
Paul's older brother who moves to London for work.
Baxter Dawes
supporting
Also known as Baxter Dawes, Dawes, Baxter, XIII Baxter Dawes
Clara's estranged husband and Paul's rival.
Annie Morel
supporting
Also known as Annie, Annie Swan
Paul's sister who marries and moves away.
Arthur Morel
supporting
Also known as Arthur, Love Arthur, the Family Arthur Morel, Meantime Arthur
Paul's younger brother, a miner and soldier.
Edgar Leivers
supporting
Also known as Eddie Dakin, Edgar, Edgar the eldest
Miriam's older brother and Paul's friend.
Beatrice Wyld
minor
Also known as Beatrice, Beatrice Wyld
A flirtatious young woman who briefly attracts Paul.
Fanny
minor
Also known as the hunchback Fanny, Fanny, Poor Fanny
A hunchbacked factory worker and friend of Paul.
Mrs. Dawes
minor
Also known as Mrs. Dawes, Dawes
Baxter Dawes' mother, who appears briefly.
Mr. Pappleworth
minor
Also known as Pappleworth, Mr. Pappleworth
Paul's supervisor at the surgical appliance factory.
Mrs. Radford
minor
Also known as Mrs. Radford
Clara's mother, with whom Clara lives.
Minnie
minor
Also known as Polly, Minnie, Presently Minnie
A servant girl in the Morel household.
Mrs. Leivers
minor
Also known as Mrs. Leivers, the Leivers
Miriam's mother, a kind farm woman.
Leonard
minor
Also known as Leonard, Len
A young man who courts Annie Morel.
Mr. Jordan
minor
Also known as Mr. Jordan, Mr. Jordan common, Jordan, Presently Mr. Jordan
Owner of the factory where Paul works.
Jerry Purdy
minor
Also known as Jerry Purdy, Jerry
A friend of Walter Morel from the mines.
Barker
minor
Also known as Barker
A miner and neighbor of the Morels.
Louisa Lily Denys Western
minor
Also known as Louisa Lily Denys, Louisa Lily Denys Western, Lily
William Morel's fiancée from London.
Mr. Heaton
minor
Also known as Mr. Heaton, So Mr. Heaton
A clergyman who visits the Morel family.
Thomas Jordan
minor
Also known as Thomas Jordan, Thomas
Mr. Jordan's full name, factory owner.
Anthony
minor
Also known as Anthony, Mrs. Anthony
A neighbor of the Morels.
Miss Western
minor
Also known as Miss Western
Lily's sister, who visits with William.
Emmie Limb
minor
Also known as Emmie Limb, Emma, Limb
A factory girl who works with Paul.
Mrs. Kirk
minor
Also known as Mrs. Kirk
A neighbor who helps during family crises.
Agatha
minor
Also known as Aggie, Agatha
Annie Morel's friend.
Mr. Leivers
minor
Also known as Mr. Leivers
Miriam's father, a farmer.
Margaret Bonford
minor
Also known as Margaret Bonford
A friend of Clara's from the women's movement.
Bill Naylor
minor
Also known as Bill Naylor, Bill
A miner and friend of Arthur Morel.
Mr. Braithwaite
minor
Also known as Mr. Braithwaite
A local tradesman.
Connie
minor
Also known as Connie
A young woman in Paul's social circle.
Miss Limb
minor
Also known as Miss Limb
Emmie Limb's relative, also a factory worker.
Mrs. Bower
minor
Also known as Mrs. Bower
A midwife who attends Mrs. Morel.
Mr. Winterbottom
minor
Also known as Mr. Winterbottom, glossy Mr. Winterbottom
A well-dressed man from the village.
Mrs. Dakin
minor
Also known as Mrs. Dakin
Edgar Leivers' mother.
Maurice
minor
Also known as Maurice
A young man from the village.
Susan
minor
Also known as Susan
A servant in the Morel household.
Dr. Ansell
minor
Also known as Dr. Ansell
The family doctor for the Morels.
Alfy
minor
Also known as Alfy Ant'ny 'e, Alfy
A young boy from the mining community.
Taff
minor
Also known as Taff
A miner and friend of Walter Morel.
George Coppard
minor
Also known as George Coppard
Gertrude Morel's father.
Pussy
minor
Also known as Pussy
A cat owned by the Morel family.
Missis Arabella
minor
Also known as Missis, Arabella, Missis Arabella
A woman from the village.
Mrs. Inger
minor
Also known as Mrs. Inger
A neighbor of the Morels.
Gyp
minor
Also known as Gyp
A dog owned by the Leivers family.
Newton
minor
Also known as Newton
A horse on the Leivers farm.
Dr. Jameson
minor
Also known as Dr. Jameson
A doctor who treats William Morel.
Gertrude Coppard
minor
Also known as Gertrude Coppard, Gertrude
Gertrude Morel's maiden name, mentioned in backstory.
Alfred Charlesworth
minor
Also known as Alfred, Alfred Charlesworth
A man from the village.
Chubby
minor
Also known as Chubby
A child in the Morel neighborhood.
Geoffrey
minor
Also known as Geoffrey
A young man from the village.
Jim Inger
minor
Also known as Jim Inger, Jimmy
A boy from the mining community.
Orion
minor
Also known as Orion
A dog owned by the Morels.
Louie Travers
minor
Also known as Louie, Louie Travers
A young woman from the village.
Mr. Wesson
minor
Also known as Mr. Wesson, Wesson
A local tradesman.
Postle
minor
Also known as Postle
A miner and friend of the Morels.
John Field
minor
Also known as John Field
A man from the village.
Jim Crow
minor
Also known as Jim, Jim Crow
A miner and friend of Walter Morel.
Willam
minor
Also known as Willam
A misspelling of William, possibly a child.
Miss Jordan
minor
Also known as Miss Jordan
Mr. Jordan's daughter.
Jack Bredon
minor
Also known as Jack Bredon
A young man from the village.
Little
minor
Also known as Little
A child in the Morel neighborhood.
Penelope
minor
Also known as Penelope
A name mentioned in passing.
Jack Pilkington
minor
Also known as Jack Pilkington, Jack
A young man from the village.
Nurse
minor
Also known as Nurse
A nurse who attends the Morel family.
