Revisiting Authority and Individual Agency: Unpacking the Interplay of Power and Obedience in D.H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers through Milgram’s theory

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature, faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Golestan University, Gorgan Iran

2 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of English Language and Literature, faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Golestan university, Gorgan, Iran

10.22080/jlab.2026.31341.1014

Abstract

This study examines the dynamics of obedience in D.H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers (1913) through the theoretical lens of Stanley Milgram’s research on authority and compliance. The central problem addressed is the tension between individual autonomy and subordination to authoritative figures, exemplified by Paul Morel’s psychological and emotional submission to his mother, Mrs. Morel. Obedience, defined as compliance with commands even when conflicting with personal morality, is explored both as a social-psychological phenomenon and a literary motif. The study integrates Milgram’s findings on the behavioral, moral, and affective dimensions of obedience—such as perceived legitimacy of authority, emotional dependence, displacement of responsibility, conformity, and psychological entrapment—with Lawrence’s literary depiction of familial authority. Methodologically, a comparative interpretive approach is employed, juxtaposing close readings of key passages from Sons and Lovers with Milgram’s experimental results. This approach elucidates the mechanisms through which authority shapes behavior and emotion in both controlled laboratory settings and complex domestic relationships. Findings reveal that Paul’s obedience to Mrs. Morel mirrors Milgramian dynamics: he externalizes responsibility, suppresses moral judgment, and prioritizes relational duty over personal desire, resulting in emotional isolation and constrained romantic engagement. The study demonstrates that obedience operates not merely as behavioral compliance but as a multidimensional process intertwined with affective, ethical, and relational factors. In conclusion, the integration of Milgram’s theory and Lawrence’s narrative underscores the interdisciplinary value of combining psychological insight with literary analysis, offering a nuanced understanding of authority, moral conflict, and emotional dependency in human behavior and literature

Keywords

References

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Journal of Literature Across Borders
Volume 1, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
Winter/Spring
July 2026
Pages 135-152

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