Explication and Analysis for Rocking Horse Winner Essay Example
Explication and Analysis for Rocking Horse Winner Essay Example

Explication and Analysis for Rocking Horse Winner Essay Example

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  • Pages: 5 (1111 words)
  • Published: October 26, 2017
  • Type: Analysis
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The Rocking-Horse Winner" is an on-the-edge short story that teaches an important lesson about the dangers and consequences from pursuing too much wealth and possessions. Purposely narrated in an omniscient point of view, this short story interweaves situational and imagery to illustrate that materialism will not satisfy the deepest yearnings of the heart.

The first instance of situational irony is found in the beginning of the story, where Hester, the mother had all the possessions that anyone could wish for in her early ears, but bad circumstances occurred that stripped all her wealth and material goods away. Her dissatisfaction and continual desire for something more, something greater prevented her giving her children what they really needed: love. But, ironically, though she knows her heart is hardened, to hide her pride, she pretends t

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o affectionately care for her children to make neighbors and strangers think that she is a great example of a loving mother.

This circumstance shows that an unhealthy and unrelenting pursuit of self -satisfaction will only lead to heartbreak. As Hester finally unredeemed the importance of love and showered it on her eldest son, Paul, he was on death's lair. Pall's death also illustrates irony because he was the chance for his mother's happiness, but he left before she could obtain it. In a way, this situational irony reminds the reader that all the treasures and the wealth of the world are fleeting, which parallels that fact that it can only bring Lung 2 temporary satisfaction.

Greed and lusts after the tidbits in the world not only corrupted the mother, but it led to unalterable consequences, such as Pall's death. Pall's actions

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to be luck and please his mother is also another example of situational irony. Paul, in his quest to be lucky, furiously rides his rocking-horse to get inspiration on which horses' names to bet on in horse races. However, this is very ironic because every time he chooses a horse, the horse becomes the winner of a race, which indicates that he was always lucky from the beginning.

This shows that all of his pursuit was useless and meaningless. Instead of choosing to enjoy the little moments in life and develop good characteristics that would bring the family closer soother, both the son and the mother chose to deal with matters of less importance. Imagery is not prevalent in this short story, but it can be found in subtle things, especially when Lawrence describes Pall's eyes in different situations. The imagery helps lead the plot on, and contributes to the main conflict and Pall's feelings.

When Paul started asking his mother about luck, he had "unsure eyes" (287), which indicate that he was pondering and thinking about how to approach the idea of getting lucky. When he had thoughts of winning money or getting lucky he had "big, hot, blue eyes" (290), "his eyes blazed", or "his eyes were blue fire". Blaze, fire, and hot are strong words that hint at the destructiveness of this unhealthy obsession. Many of these descriptions illustrate a burning, consuming flame, Just as there is a burning, not Gleeson Tanat Is Declining to control ml.

Filled with extensive irony and imagery, "The Rocking-Horse Winner" utilizes these techniques to stir the plot and provide information about the families situation so hat

the theme can be effectively communicated. It is through Pall's frenzied obsession with horse betting and Lung 3 when the mother comes to grasp what is truly important when the readers find that greed and the constant pursuit for self-satisfaction will corrupt and destroy oneself and those close to him or her. Explication of "The Rocking-Horse Winner" "The Rocking-Horse Winner", written by D. H.

Lawrence, explores how a boy and his mother try to work laboriously to obtain the ideal they both crave: wealth and recognition. Though Paul, the young boy, earns an abundant sum of his mother, she still feels an emptiness tugging at her heart, as she wants more, more, and more. It is a constant inner battle that both are facing as they wrestle to gratify their ravenous desires. Right from the beginning, one gets the sense of dissatisfaction, separation, and hopelessness. The mother is always performing actions for the sake of obtaining some form of pleasure, or for reaping some benefits for herself.

For instance, "she married for love, and the love turned to dust" (285). Her ideal image of happiness always gets thwarted, as other plans take hold and lead her down a path she does not intend to go, leaving her discouraged even more. This frequent dissatisfaction brings about apathy, as she feels nothing, no love "for anybody' (286) including her children. The outcome of an unhealthy obsession is Just emptiness and Just going through the motions for Hester. Upon further reading of the story, it is obvious that the whole families life is centered around money and material possessions.

It was such the focal point that heir house

became "haunted by [whisperings of] 'There must be more money! There must be more money! " (286), which ironically got louder and more chaotic as the Christmas holiday approached. Although Lung 2 they tried to build a aped by purchasing expensive goods, and hiring servants, inside their homes, they were terribly bitter. Paul also faces lack of recognition, not from others, but from his mother. Receiving no attention from his mother, he begins the horse betting on his rocking horse to "compel her attention" (288).

In his selfless act, he also begins to place luck, money, and material possessions as gods and foresees the winning horses of derbies so he can win a great sum for his mother. However, he is continually depressed as he sees Hester salvage up the money he earns her quickly and return to her unsatisfied state as quick as lightning. He and his mother are continually left feeling isolated, with broken hearts. Paul, in his death, believes that the eighty thousand pounds from the horse, Malabar, will satisfy his mother. But it is obvious she still craves more.

Just as the mother is beginning to appreciate the more important things in life such as her child, he went "out of a life" (298). Just as she figures that her son is her only chance to wealth n, nee Is gone. In a sense, Lawrence Is trying to communicate to ten reader Tanat there is no use investing one's own life in something that will never entirely fill the empty heart. Monetary items will fade away in death; even Paul couldn't carry his hard earned cash to the graveside. One should

be appreciative of what he or she has and count them as blessings.

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