William Morel

Character Analysis

It's not all that hard to picture William in this story. He's the all-state quarterback of the Morel family. The oldest son, tall and muscular, bounding into the house and clapping you on the back.
In an early passage, the book reveals his hearty character:

Already he was getting a big boy. Already he was top of the class, and the master said he was the smartest lad in school. She saw him a man, young, full of vigour. (3.18)

He eventually moves away from home and makes some solid money, all the while making his mother cheer with pride. He's such a great son, in fact, that you just know he's going to die. And sure enough, that's what he does.

Even before he dies, though, William seems to undergo a spiritual death by becoming involved with a girl he really doesn't care about. The girl's name is Lily, and it's clear that William only likes her because she's pretty and well-to-do. When he's not around her, he couldn't care less about her.

As he says: 

"You know, mother, when I'm away from her I don't care for her a bit. I shouldn't care if I never saw her again. But, then, when I'm with her in the evenings I am awfully fond of her." (6.129)

When Lily's actually around, though, he wants to show her off like a new car. This is hardly the basis for a good marriage, but William won't listen to reason.

For a good while, it seems like William is going to be the protagonist of this story. But we should have had the good sense to know that the sensitive and artistic Paul is much more Lawrence's speed when it comes to protagonists. Poor William, it seems, exists in this book primarily to set the scene for the unhealthy attachment between Paul and Mrs. Morel.

When she finally gets over William's death, "Mrs. Morel's life now root[s] itself in Paul" (6.486). William is a cool guy, and we think that he's probably not as phony as he seems. But D.H. Lawrence definitely uses him as a plot device to bring Paul and Mrs. Morel (uncomfortably) together.

Despite his early death, his ghost hangs over Paul throughout the novel.