Sons and Lovers

Paul pays occasional visits to Miriam at Willey Farm. Miriam is a “romantic in her soul” (134), who sees echoes of her favorite literature in the world around her. She wishes that he would pay more attention to her, and when Paul was sick, she wanted to care for him as a demonstration of her love. Paul enjoys his visits to the pastoral Willey Farm. Similar to Miriam, he sees her as a figure from “some dreamy tale” (137). Miriam has three brothers who treat her harshly. They are ill-mannered and cruel, mocking her in front of Paul when she burns potatoes. Mrs. Leivers does nothing to stop the boys who Miriam calls “low” (138). Paul and Miriam both love nature. They explore the countryside, and while picking flowers and examining a bird’s nest, they begin to fall in love. As he recovers, Paul makes drawings. He shows these drawings to the Leivers family, who seem more responsive to the drawings than Gertrude. Paul befriends Miriam’s brother Edgar, who is kinder to him than to her. Miriam shows Paul a swing in the cowshed. They take turns on the swing, but Miriam is too fearful to really lose herself in the game as Paul can.