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Everywhere you look in Sons and Lovers, characters are suffering from wounded pride or getting all up in arms about others' arrogance. Paul, Miriam, Mrs. Morel, Walter Morel, and Clara Dawes all get their egos bruised, and they constantly feel insecure in the presence of people who act superior to them. In Paul's case, pride is one of the many things that keeps him from fully accepting Miriam's love. It's tragic, really. So while D.H. Lawrence seems to suggest that pride is a necessary aspect of human experience, it can also can get in the way of personal growth. Amen, brother.
If Mrs. Morel weren't so proud of her sons, they'd actually achieve more in their lives.
All of the accusations leveled at female characters in this book for being to proud speak to the sexist culture of early-20th-century Britain. Women simply aren't allowed to be self-satisfied, especially without men around to thank for their accomplishments.