Essay on The Rocking Horse Winner describing the pressure society puts on a family.

Essay by emzec37High School, 12th gradeA, October 2003

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The Rocking Horse Winner

A society based on strong aristocratic values can cause one to embrace greed and personal gain, indirectly blinding the view of what really matters. In this society, social status is of the utmost importance. In "The Rocking Horse Winner" written by D.H. Lawrence, a family structure collapses under a mother's insatiable quest for money, personal gain, and the desire to reach beyond her social class. Paul, the young boy, driven by the need to help and please his mother, fails to achieve this goal, and ultimately meets his death in the end. Because of this, a deranged and motivated character is created through Paul's actions and dialogue, obligating him to take on the pressures of the household.

Through Paul's dialogue, his character evolves more and more into the leader of the household. He shows extreme and excessive worries and concerns about the family problems.

He asks his mother why they don't have a car of their own and why they are not lucky. After hearing her answer, he decides that he wants to help and support his mother in hopes for her return of love and affection. Paul states, "I'm a lucky person." He is determined now to support his family. His mother's insanity drives him to gamble on horse racing in order to acquire money for her high social status. Paul hears the house whisper that there is not enough money and he yearns for it to stop. He says to his uncle, "So she'll have a thousand pounds for five successive years." Wanting to provide for her because the father is out of the picture, and because of the society they live in, Paul feels the need to take on the weight of the household.

Paul's actions suggest that he feels...