“The Rocking Horse Winner” Analysis

The Rocking Horse Winner presents a middles class family whose parents are consumed by materialism, the consequences of which repair the children, especially the protagonist, capital of Minnesota. Third person omniscient point of view allows for capital of Minnesotas feelings and development, the takes selfishness and detachment from other people, and the uncles greed glowering of capital of Minnesotas gambling to be portrayed. The thoughts and motives of each character are told with that point of view. The supernatural and fairytale-like mood enhances the effect of Pauls composition by making it so much more(prenominal) than believable and keeps the story entertaining.The thirst for wealth and greed can never be satisfied and is conveyed through symbolism and allusion throughout the story. The personification of the house as a seething and greedy character portrays the arrest by repeating, There must be more money (312). Any amount of money is never satisfying to her. Since the drive doesnt voice her need for money, the house does. Around Christmas time and when Paul gives his mother a thousand pounds each month the whispers from the house become louder and more prominent to Paul. He covers his ears with his hands to soften the cries of the house and wants it to stop.The whispers are continuous, significant of the mothers greed and how it can never be satisfied, and Pauls cry for her love. The rocking horse symbolizes the innocence of childhood by being a mash representing the happiness and carefree essence of childrens lives. Because the story is written like a fairytale, its believable that the horse gives Paul magical powers. Which easily claims it, Pauls secret of secrets (322) by helping him pursue money and material gain to win his mothers love, and reflects how he go away do anything for her.The unidentified horse makes him think that he is going somewhere but hes not. It emphasizes his attitude about his mission by the description of how he frantically rides it. Racing affects Paul because he becomes completely consumed by it. His need for money keeps growing, like his mother, so he relies on gambling. The ancient meaning of wage is to send oneself as security, one would pledge his liveness on the outcome of a duel or battle, which Paul becomes. Literally, Paul is putting wagers on horses and which one will win the race, but figuratively he is sacrificing himself for love and becomes the bet.Because he loves his mother so, he dies for her happiness and love. Irony is shown here because instead of him losing money he loses his life. Paul makes a deal with the devil so he can be lucky and gain money so he can receive his mothers love and make her happy, but his mother and uncle both used him in the end. Uncle Oscars words to Pauls mother were, My God Hester, youre eighty-thousand to the good, and a poor devil of a son to the bad. But poor devil, poor devil, hes best gone out of a life where he rides his rocking-horse to find a winner (325).Those words show the pact Paul made with the devil and how the uncle used Paul for his own greed and selfishness. Paul reacted to his mother by trying to please her and make her happy. The tragedy is that when his mother ultimately loves Paul it is too late and Paul dies. It is also ironic that he spent his whole life trying to gain her love but as his life comes to an end he ultimately gets his goal achieved. Pauls mother is a symbol of the upper class because she has servants, a big house, and can spend money on toys at Christmas time for her children.Shes in debt but would rather get more materialistic things than pay off her debt. Because she wanted wealth and materialistic things she neglected her children which abused them mentally. She thought that appearance was more important than whats real. Her children never knew that they were in need for money if the house hadnt whispered. She made people believe that she loved her children very much when she t ruly just put on an act. She didnt teach very good values to her children. Pauls mother married for love, and love did not aim her happiness like money did.It is ironic how the mother thinks that she is unlucky when she is beautiful, has children she wants to please, married for love, and has artistic talents. She is the poorest and most unlucky in her family in her mind, but is the richest and luckiest because of her family. The supernatural elements cockscomb Pauls clairvoyance and symbols and allusion conveyed the theme of social criticism by showing how determined he was to get his mothers love by give her money which she uses to get materialistic things to maintain her social position.A society that promotes materialism at the expense of humanity is very selfish and wrong. It shows how big of an relate peoples judgments on someones financial situation can have on that individual. It can consume a person and make them forget about others and reality. Pauls situation is tragic because materialism gets one nowhere. Because his mother lost something more important than her materialist needs love, she is left with nothing.