Jerry Purdy Character Analysis in Sons and Lovers

Jerry Purdy is a miner and a friend of Mr. Morel’s. He is a misogynist and believes that men should have supreme rights over their wives, who should live to serve and obey them. Mr. Morel is impressed with him for a time and, under his influence, tries to bully his wife. Mrs. Morel despises Jerry and hates that he is friends with her husband.

Jerry Purdy Character Timeline in Sons and Lovers

The timeline below shows where the character Jerry Purdy appears in Sons and Lovers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Family, Psychology, and the Oedipus Complex Theme Icon

Women’s Work and Women’s Rights Theme Icon

...and the mine is closed. Mr. Morel plans to walk to Nottingham with his friend, Jerry Purdy, whom Mrs. Morel hates. She knows that Jerry’s wife, who died recently, hated him... (full context)

Mr. Morel and Jerry catch an evening train back to “the Bottoms” and go to another nearby pub where... (full context)

...him. When he tries to take back control of the household—egged on by his friend Jerry Purdy, who encourages Mr. Morel to put his foot down and dominate his wife—Mrs. Morel... (full context)