Student Question
What are the motifs in "The Rocking-Horse Winner" and why is D.H. Lawrence known as "the master of the motif"?
Quick answer:
Motifs in "The Rocking-Horse Winner" include the Oedipus complex, responsibility, and generosity versus greed. Paul assumes the father's role by financially supporting his family, highlighting themes of parental responsibility and childlike generosity. However, his mother's greed overshadows her love for him. D.H. Lawrence is known as "the master of the motif" for his effective use of recurring themes and symbols, such as the rocking horse representing money and life, to deepen narrative meaning.
A motif is a recurring theme or element in a piece of literature (www.dictionary.com). There are several motifs in "The Rocking-Horse Winner": Oedipus complex, responsibility, and generosity and greed (www.enotes.com). Briefly, Paul has taken the place of the father by providing money to his mother through his horse racing predictions; also, he has taken on the role of parent through responsibility for providing for them monetarily (ironically, it should be the parents taking care of the children); finally, Paul is extremely generous by giving the money he has won to his mother without question (but she spends it on material things instead of saving it); finally, greed is an obvious theme in this story--his mother is horribly greedy and doesn't express to Paul how much she loves him, etc. She is not a good mother. D.H. Lawrence definitely is a true master of the motif through his strong use of theme and symbols (for example, the rocking-horse represents a way of life/money in the story).
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