Themes: Money and Socioeconomic Status
“The Rocking-Horse Winner” centers on a family in which each parent makes “a small income, but not nearly enough for the social position which they had to keep up.” The mother grew up “with all the advantages,” so she expects and desires a certain standard of living that she and her husband are not capable of maintaining. However, they seem to ignore the reality of their financial situation, indulging in “expensive and wonderful presents” for their children for Christmas. As a result of their struggle to keep up appearances and make ends meet, the family is always in need of more money. Lawrence represents this in the story by personifying the house itself, which is “filled with unspoken words,” as it repeats the phrase “There must be more money!”
Even after the family gains more money, when Paul puts forth five thousand pounds of his winnings toward his family’s debts, the house does not quiet down; in fact, it gets louder. When Paul’s mother receives the money, she buys “new furnishings, “flowers in the winter,” and a tutor for Paul. This makes the house go “mad,” as “the voices screamed and seemed to shake the house among the flowers and the new furniture.” The money problems have only been exacerbated, probably because the mother has spent the new windfall on luxury items instead of paying off debts or saving. The financial struggles in the household affect Paul deeply; he is “frightened” by the louder voices and their pleas for “More than ever!” His fear motivates him to keep riding his rocking horse to predict the next race winner, after he loses faith in his abilities, and it is the obsessive drive to call the winning horse and rake in the profits that leads to Paul’s madness and death. Uncle Oscar’s remark that the boy is better off dead than living a life where he takes on so much pressure and responsibility as a mere child serves as a critique of the mother’s carelessness with money.
Expert Q&A
What does the irony of the boy's actions increasing the whispers in "The Rocking-Horse Winner" reveal about the story's theme?
The irony of the boy's actions increasing the whispers in "The Rocking-Horse Winner" reveals the story's theme that the pursuit of wealth only intensifies greed and dissatisfaction. As the boy seeks to gain more money, the whispers grow louder, symbolizing the insatiable nature of material desire. This ultimately leads to tragic consequences, highlighting the futility and destructiveness of such pursuits.
Paul's confusion about the concept of luck and its relationship to money, as defined by his mother, in "The Rocking-Horse Winner."
Paul's confusion about luck and its relationship to money stems from his mother's definition. She equates luck with financial success, implying that being lucky means having money. This perspective perplexes Paul, leading him to obsessively seek luck through his rocking-horse, hoping it will bring the wealth his family desperately desires.
Paul's response to the house's whispers and his efforts to change his family's luck in "The Rocking-Horse Winner."
Paul responds to the house's whispers by obsessively riding his rocking horse to predict winning horses in races, believing this will change his family's luck. His intense efforts stem from a desire to gain his mother's approval and alleviate their financial troubles, ultimately leading to his tragic downfall.
Materialism's Impact on Characters in "The Rocking-Horse Winner"
In D.H. Lawrence's "The Rocking-Horse Winner," materialism profoundly affects nearly every character. Hester, the mother, is driven by an insatiable desire for wealth, impacting her son Paul, who sacrifices himself to satisfy her needs. Uncle Oscar and Bassett are also influenced, focusing on monetary gain. The story critiques materialism's destructive nature, showing how it fails to fulfill spiritual needs and leads to dysfunction, particularly affecting Paul, who seeks love through financial success but ultimately suffers a tragic fate.
Paul's Birthday Gift and Its Impact on His Mother's Problems in "The Rocking-Horse Winner"
In D.H. Lawrence's "The Rocking-Horse Winner," Paul gives his mother £5,000 in installments as a birthday gift, hoping to alleviate her financial woes. However, his mother's greed and obsession with wealth prevent her from appreciating the gesture. Despite eventually receiving the full amount, her desires intensify, leading to further dissatisfaction and tragedy. Ultimately, Paul's efforts to solve his mother's problems through financial means fail, as her issues stem from emotional emptiness rather than monetary need.
How does the boy’s furious riding in "The Rocking-Horse Winner" symbolize materialistic pursuits?
The boy's furious riding on the rocking horse symbolizes the relentless pursuit of material wealth, reflecting the futility and destructiveness of materialism. Paul's intense focus and desperation mirror the endless greed that drives individuals to seek more money, often at the expense of meaningful life experiences. His tragic death from exhaustion underscores the emptiness of such pursuits, as the rocking horse, like materialism, ultimately takes him nowhere, symbolizing the cycle of unfulfilled desires.
Family's Financial Struggles in "The Rocking-Horse Winner"
In D.H. Lawrence's "The Rocking-Horse Winner," the family's financial struggles stem from their relentless pursuit of social status and material wealth, rather than actual poverty. They live comfortably with a nice house and servants, but their extravagant lifestyle and desire to maintain social superiority lead to perpetual financial anxiety. The mother's insatiable greed and emotional void drive her to spend beyond their means. Despite Paul's efforts to win money through horse racing, his substantial contributions only fuel her desire for more, ultimately leading to tragedy.
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