How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
He was quite a clever painter for a boy of his years, and he knew some French and German and mathematics that Mr. Heaton had taught him. But nothing he had was of any commercial value. (5.61)
Paul's really well-versed in the arts, but when it comes to getting a job, all of his cultural knowledge doesn't get him very far. Nothing he knows is of any "commercial value." As people who love literature, we have to say: we've heard this argument before, Shmoopers. Cover your eyeballs—there's some Humanities bashing afoot in this passage.
Quote #2
To console his mother, Paul did not go much to Willey Farm at this time. And in the autumn exhibition of students' work in the Castle he had two studies, a landscape in water-colour and a still life in oil, both of which had first-prize awards. He was highly excited. (8.83)
When he wins his first couple of art prizes, Paul is ecstatic. It's no coincidence that these successes in painting come at the same time that Paul stops visiting Miriam at Willey Farm. We get it, Lawrence, we get it—love really can stand between you and your own accomplishments.
Quote #3
"Name—Paul Morel—First Prize."
It looked so strange, there in public, on the walls of the Castle gallery, where in her lifetime she had seen so many pictures. And she glanced around to see if anyone had noticed her again in front of the same sketch. (8.100-8.101)
At first, Mrs. Morel doesn't quite know how to react to seeing her son's paintings exhibited in a public place. Actually, she doesn't even realize that the paintings she's staring at are her sons' paintings. The fact that she can't find any faults with them as an objective observer tells us that Paul's paintings are probably pretty good.
Quote #4
When he was twenty-three years old, Paul sent in a landscape to the winter exhibition at Nottingham Castle. Miss Jordan had taken a good deal of interest in him, and invited him to her house, where he met other artists. He was beginning to grow ambitious. (10.1)
As Paul matures, so do his paintings. These paintings eventually win him the favor of his boss's wife, Miss Jordan, and catapult him into the world of high society—so maybe there might be some commercial value to Paul's painting skills after all? Take that, Humanities-haters.
Quote #5
"Read a book! Why she's never read a book in her life."
"Oh, go along!" said Mrs. Morel, cross with exaggeration.
"It's true, mother—she hasn't," he cried, jumping up and taking his old position on the hearth-rug. "She's never read a book in her life." (6.293-6.295)
William is generally very embarrassed by the superficiality of his fiancée Lily. But he gets downright angry whenever she tries to appear more cultured than she actually is. William hates posers, and his fiancée is no exception. Clearly, these two are not a good match for a healthy marriage.
Quote #6
"He thinks I'm only a common girl," she thought, and she wanted to prove she was a grand person like the "Lady of the Lake." (6.256)
Miriam's view of herself as a great woman has been informed by the fantasy and adventure novels she read growing up. There's absolutely nothing in her day-to-day life that would suggest Miriam's as great as she thinks she is, and this unfounded pride is what people seem to hate about her. Nonetheless, the impact of these books on her ego demonstrates just how much the arts can shape a person's self-image. Literature is powerful stuff, man.
Quote #7
"She dursn't," said Geoffrey. "She niver durst do anything except recite poitry."
"Dursn't jump off a gate, dursn't tweedle, dursn't go on a slide, dursn't stop a girl hittin' her. She can do nowt but go about thinkin' herself somebody. 'The Lady of the Lake.' Yah!" cried Maurice. (6.236-6.237)
The men of the Leivers family resent Miriam for imagining herself to be a great, cultured lady like one of the heroines in her adventure books. The direct connection between "Lady of the Lake" and Miriam's haughtiness shows us that Miriam might've been better off if she'd read books with less stereotypically "feminine" role models—like Lisbeth Salander, for example.
Quote #8
It was a volume of verse with a brief note: "You will allow me to send you this, and so spare me my isolation. I also sympathise and wish you well.—C.D." Paul flushed hot.
"Good Lord! Mrs. Dawes. She can't afford it. Good Lord, who ever'd have thought it!"
After failing to chip in for a set of paints for Paul's birthday, Clara Dawes decides to show Paul she cares about him by buying him a solo gift: a volume of poetry. Paul is absolutely stunned by this "cultured" present. It makes him feel like Clara's a kindred spirit when it comes to loving art and poetry. Of course, that makes him want to sleep with her.
Quote #9
He made her copy Baudelaire's "Le Balcon." Then he read it for her. His voice was soft and caressing, but growing almost brutal. He had a way of lifting his lips and showing his teeth, passionately and bitterly, when he was much moved. (8.515)
Art and Culture play big roles in mediating the relationship between Paul and Miriam. Paul often communicates to Miriam through the way he recites French poetry. We think that, in speaking through the poetry of others, Paul can express emotions he'd never be able to get out on his own—being a man in early-20th-century Britain and all.
Quote #10
"You are affected in that piece," she would say; and, as there was an element of truth in her condemnation, his blood boiled with anger. (10.179)
Man, criticizing Paul's paintings really gets his blood boiling. We think that's because he suspects that the criticism is true; Clara is very good at pointing out the weaknesses that Paul's most desperate to hide from himself… and she does this mostly by commenting on his paintings. Clever girl.