Considering what is mentioned above, the paper is aimed at applying a psychoanalytic reading on D. Firstly, the Oedipus complex that arises between Paul and his mother. Paul's strong desire to appease his mother leads to him financially usurping his father as the money- provider of the household. The only thing is, Hester's own sense of insufficiency spills over onto Paul, who is driven mad by his ever more desperate attempts to please her and earn her love.
None of house-members mentions this evident truth even once within the story while the house does it for them. He comes to understanding on an instinctual level that his mother is not happy. He is on the threshold of adolescence, eager and energetic, and becoming increasingly curious about the ways of the adult world.
Paul is not entirely sure what to say, since he has begun to think of his horse with the names of the champion racers of the day. They have already accumulated a private account of some substance, and Cresswell becomes a sort of senior partner to their enterprise, encouraging Paul by taking him on his first visit to an actual racetrack.
He intends to put all of their winnings on one last bet in an attempt to finally amass enough money to quiet the whispers of discontent and distress. When she rushes home, she finds him in his room, in a frenzy of motion on the rocking horse. His uncle and Bassett, although worried about Paul, place a winning bet on Malabar that pays at fourteen to one. For three days, Paul remains in critical condition, reviving momentarily when Basset tells him the horse has won to proudly proclaim to his mother that he has brought luck to the house.
However, he then lapses back into a coma and dies during the night. Some critics such as W. Snodgrass, say that it is a kind of psychoanalytic exploration of sexuality along with Oedipus complex in which Paul aims to replace his father by trying to satisfy the needs of his mother. It combines the mundane concerns of realistic fiction with the mystery of fantasy and fable and, like good fairy tales, it was complementary references to social, familial, and psychological levels. According to W.
As Snodgrass, Janice Hubbard Harris, and others have observed, Paul, the preadolescent boy, frequently retreats to his room where, in secrecy, he mounts his hobbyhorse and rides himself into a trace. If Paul rides his rocking horse long enough and hard enough, He will probably get to a visionary trance resulting in his foretelling the future.
With uncanny insight the boy is able to predict the name of the next winning horse at the races. The child, Paul, is spiritually close to his mother and wishes to help her by getting her some money.
To put it differently, Paul wants to be lucky, desperately, and he succeeds, or so it would seem, because before he dies, and as result of naming the winner, he earns 80, pounds. There must be more money! His father was not around to be a role model; and, as a result, Paul developed a strong love for his mother. In Lawrence, industry is service to the Magna Mater; always it is oedipal.
One might say that Lawrence's characters long for pre-oedipal union with the mother, regression to the fused relationship of infancy, but, defending against the longing, they assert a pseudo-independent role in her service, exchanging for pre-oedipal wish an oedipal expression. In "Rocking-Horse Winner," when his mother tells him she married an unlucky husband, Paul replies, "Well anyhow. I'm a lucky person" cf. Clayton From the creators of SparkNotes, something better.
Literature Poetry Lit Terms Shakescleare. Download this LitChart! Teachers and parents! Struggling with distance learning? Themes All Themes. Symbols All Symbols. Theme Wheel. Everything you need for every book you read. But Paul only gave a blue glare from his big, rather close-set eyes. He would speak to nobody when he was in full tilt. His mother watched him with an anxious expression on her face.
At last he suddenly stopped forcing his horse into the mechanical gallop and slid down. What's the horse's name? The uncle was delighted to find that his small nephew was posted with all the racing news. Bassett, the young gardener, who had been wounded in the left foot in the war and had got his present job through Oscar Cresswell, whose batman he had been, was a perfect blade of the 'turf'. He lived in the racing events, and the small boy lived with him. Would you mind asking him himself?
He sort of takes a pleasure in it, and perhaps he'd feel I was giving him away, sir, if you don't mind. I thought perhaps you might give me a tip for the Lincoln. The car sped on into the country, going down to Uncle Oscar's place in Hampshire.
We've been partners from the first. Uncle, he lent me my first five shillings, which I lost. I promised him, honour bright, it was only between me and him; only you gave me that ten-shilling note I started winning with, so I thought you were lucky. You won't let it go any further, will you?
The boy gazed at his uncle from those big, hot, blue eyes, set rather close together. The uncle stirred and laughed uneasily. I'll keep your tip private. How much are you putting on him? What are you betting, then? Honour bright? Perhaps he'll go a hundred and fifty. Between wonder and amusement Uncle Oscar was silent. He pursued the matter no further, but he determined to take his nephew with him to the Lincoln races. What's your pick? Right you are! A fiver for me and a fiver for you on Daffodil.
The child had never been to a race-meeting before, and his eyes were blue fire. He pursed his mouth tight and watched. A Frenchman just in front had put his money on Lancelot. Wild with excitement, he flayed his arms up and down, yelling "Lancelot! Daffodil came in first, Lancelot second, Mirza third. The child, flushed and with eyes blazing, was curiously serene. His uncle brought him four five-pound notes, four to one.
Only, you'd have to promise, honour bright, uncle, not to let it go beyond us three. Bassett and I are lucky, and you must be lucky, because it was your ten shillings I started winning with And he was always keen on knowing if I'd made or if I'd lost. It's about a year since, now, that I put five shillings on Blush of Dawn for him: and we lost.
Then the luck turned, with that ten shillings he had from you: that we put on Singhalese. And since that time, it's been pretty steady, all things considering.
What do you say, Master Paul? Like Daffodil, now, for the Lincoln. That was as sure as eggs. I told uncle I was putting three hundred on Daffodil. Master Paul he can have it any minute he likes to ask for it. They drove home again, and, sure enough, Bassett came round to the garden-house with fifteen hundred pounds in notes. The twenty pounds reserve was left with Joe Glee, in the Turf Commission deposit.
Then we go strong, for all we're worth, don't we, Bassett? Then we're careful, because we mostly go down. And when you're sure, like about Daffodil, what makes you sure, sonny? But he became a partner. And when the Leger was coming on Paul was 'sure' about Lively Spark, which was a quite inconsiderable horse. The boy insisted on putting a thousand on the horse, Bassett went for five hundred, and Oscar Cresswell two hundred.
Lively Spark came in first, and the betting had been ten to one against him. Paul had made ten thousand. She said she had no luck, because father is unlucky, so I thought if I was lucky, it might stop whispering. But it's always short of money, you know, uncle. It's awful, that is! I thought if I was lucky -". The boy watched him with big blue eyes, that had an uncanny cold fire in them, and he said never a word. They managed it very easily.
Paul, at the other's suggestion, handed over five thousand pounds to his uncle, who deposited it with the family lawyer, who was then to inform Paul's mother that a relative had put five thousand pounds into his hands, which sum was to be paid out a thousand pounds at a time, on the mother's birthday, for the next five years. Paul's mother had her birthday in November.
The house had been 'whispering' worse than ever lately, and, even in spite of his luck, Paul could not bear up against it. He was very anxious to see the effect of the birthday letter, telling his mother about the thousand pounds. When there were no visitors, Paul now took his meals with his parents, as he was beyond the nursery control. His mother went into town nearly every day.
For instance, he even takes his tip share while Paul has his last time. He also advises Paul to send some money from the games to his mother. However, when he is dead, instead of being depressed he tells Hester that she is better off having such huge money than having an evil souled son.
He is a humble man with religious views. He is a young boy who wounded his leg in World War I. He works with Paul and Oscar and arranges gambling bets for him because Paul asks Bassett to work for him. He values Paul and keeps his money safe with him. Lawrence depicts this character as a kind of unconventional figure who remains absent from the lives of his family members. We come to know from the story that he has expensive choices like Hester.
However, his luck does not support him in the money-making process. He is not named until the end of the story. This feature is quite unconventional because in contemporary society men were given more power and value. She runs those responsibilities for the family that male members do e. Therefore, he begins to struggle for his luck.
However, the tension begins when Hester refuses to accept the ordinary way of life. She struggles to get out of this life and live luxuriously like elites. They live in a utilitarian world where everything is measured in material worth.
Hester realizes to him their miserable financial status. She tells him that those who have money are lucky people. He also hallucinates that the house whispers about the lack of wealth.
He is confused about the whole situation. On the other hand, his greed overcomes him and he becomes a partner with Paul to gain some wealth. After a huge win, Paul decides to send his mother a significant amount of money as her birthday gift. This should have been a happy occasion for her but seeing this gift increases her greed. She wants to get all the money, which he has reserved for her birthdays, together. Paul becomes more anxious at this revelation that his family and house cries for more and more wealth.
In this depression, he rides his rocking-horse violently at a huge speed. The reason is that he desires to know about the winning horse in the upcoming memorable event of Derby. He wants to earn a mountain of money through shortcuts within no time. In the end, he identifies the name of the winning horse that is Malabar. After this, he falls from his rocking horse and has a severe fit of brain fever.
Within a few days, he dies but wins the bet and leaves 80, pounds for his mother. For instance, there is a reference to World War I through the story of Bassett. Also, horse racing games were common in the s.
The family lives in a nice and well-ordered house near London with maids working for them. They have a moderate level of income and needs. However, Hester is not content with living a simple life.
She is preoccupied with her wheel of luck. She only pretends to be rich as she has ordered her home in a sophisticated way. The children live and play in the nursery with maids. While the parents take their meals and rest separately. The main place of action is their home but it is also haunted by the yearning for money. The moaning house predicts the internal conflicts of the house members.
As Hester and her family live in a nice neighborhood, they crave to be better or at least equal to their surroundings. They feel their house is screaming but when Paul wins huge money, the house becomes more dreadful. Through the story, Lawrence warns materialistic people that they will never find comfort and peace even at home. Lawrence depicts the issues of materialism and appearances in society through his ironic narration of such instances. For example, Hester is a pretentious woman for whom appearance is more important than reality.
She wants people to acknowledge that she is a good wife and mother. On the contrary, she knows that this is all false. Here Lawrence becomes ironic when he praises her beauty or her mannerism. However, readers are aware of her fake nature. Likely, the so-called wealthy and good Uncle Oscar also turns out to be a greedy person. He knows that Paul is following the wrong path to luck and success. Instead of forbidding him, he becomes his partner.
On the other hand, the narrator shows sympathy for the young boy Paul. He is depicted as a boy with real feelings. His tragic death also leaves the readers to feel sorry for him.
For instance, there is a love triangle between Paul, his mother Hester, and his absent father. However, his mother is like a thankless beloved who is self-centered.
The title seems a little confusing about the nature of the rocking horse. For example, Paul does not win the rocking horse. On the contrary, the rocking horse controls Paul and turns him into a wild animal. He thinks that he has made it submissive to his will and desire. It also refers to the gambling bets that Paul wins with the help of the rocking horse. For example, it takes Paul into a trance-like state.
Then he is able to guess about the winning horse in the next race. The narrator uses third-person omniscient narration to convey his thoughts about the characters.
The story even begins with a description like a fairy tale in which the readers wait for something extraordinary to happen. Through the use of ironic statements and exaggerated imagery about different characters, the writer presents their superficial natures.
Through omniscient narration, the narrator informs the readers about the inner and outer selves and fake personalities of the characters. For example, the rocking horse can be taken as an evil force. Also, we can consider it a simple toy turned wild by its owner or it can be anything else. The story seems like folklore or a classic tale. The language is simple and understandable. In the oedipal complex, a son feels sexual attraction towards his mother. As he spends his early stage of life with his mother, the child develops a rivalry with his father.
It is one of the most discussed complexes in various works of art e. Hamlet , Sons and Lovers. She tells him that lucky people have wealth. For example, Paul and his siblings hear the voice of the house that irritates them. He resolves to bring more money home to make his family comfortable. He also sends his mother an anonymous birthday gift of pounds that reflects his place of an unknown lover in her life. The rocking horse is the most mysterious and unnatural toy that Paul has in the story.
It is very important for him as it is gifted by his mother on Christmas day. He makes a deep connection with the rocking horse just as he incorporates her concept in his mind. Although Paul owns the horse, however, in reality, he is controlled by the toy. As his mother discusses luck with Paul, he feels that he has some mysterious attachment with the horse. Furthermore, when he begins riding it to find his luck, it becomes impossible for him to retreat.
The rocking horse turns him into a frantic beast who is wild in his mad pursuit. For example, his violent rocking on the horse does not yield any true movement. He is just blindly following what others say and it has no prospect.
The horse also symbolizes the dangers of yearning for materialism, money, status, and love. Just like Hester, Paul thinks that with the material wealth he will find love and affection. For this, he relies on a useless object that brings his early death. His mother shifts Paul into his bedroom from the nursery and says that he is too old for a rocking horse. However, he refuses to detach himself from it. He has to keep it hidden in his bedroom. Also, his mad riding on the horse shows his loss of control over his sexual desire.
He wants to win his mother over his father. Whenever she gets upset over money or luck, Paul begins riding his horse madly.
Money is another significant factor that runs the story. Hester desperately wants money to gain a high status and luxurious life.
When Paul asks her whether luck and money are the same thing, she responds assertively. Therefore, Paul thinks that money earns love and luck.
Similarly, Hester also thinks that being lucky means having lots of wealth. Lawrence, through the course of the novel, shows that money does not bring love or luck. As Paul gifts his mother lots of money, she still desires more instead of being happy.
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