In Chapter 7, the narrator uses an idiom to describe Miriam Leivers, who hates her position on the farm as "swine-girl" and dreams of a world that has a "different face for her and a deepened respect." Miriam sees herself as unique and special, and feels she is
Different from the other folk, and must not be scooped up among the common fry.
In the sentence above, the narrator uses an idiom, a phrase that conveys a figurative meaning and isn't based on a literal interpretation, though it once had a literal meaning. The phrase "Among the common fry" is an idiomatic way to describe someone who is ordinary or lacks uniqueness. Lawrence uses this idiom to relay the sense of "specialness" Miriam feels about herself. Her romantic worldview causes her to idealize both others and herself. At one point in the novel, the narrator lightly pokes fun at her by comparing her to the heroine of a romance novel.
Like Paul's mother, Miriam feels trapped by her circumstances and is more cerebral than physical in nature. Miriam dreams of getting an education and resents the opportunities her brothers receive just because they are men. Sons and Lovers was written in the early 20th century and this dynamic is in keeping with societal norms in Britain at the time. Women were expected to sacrifice their personal interests and passions and devote themselves to raising children as well as maintaining a household and family. Rather than laying all of this out literally for the reader, Lawrence uses figurative language and vivid descriptions to capture the reader's imagination.
