The Price of Luck People often associate luck with an object. In D. H. Lawrence's short story "The Rocking-Horse Winner" the object is a childhood toy. Paul uses his rocking-horse as a symbol of his luck.
In the beginning of the story the writer describes Paul's family and the situation they are in by saying, "Although they lived in style, they felt always an anxiety in the house. There was never enough money." His mother's explanation for being poor was that her husband had no luck which also made her unlucky. Paul told his mother that God said he was lucky, and he obsessed over being lucky.
When his sisters played, Paul rode his rocking-horse to find his luck.
"Now!" he would silently command the snorting steed. Now take me to where there is luck! Now take me!... He knew the horse could take him to where there was luck, if only he forced it."
Paul Stang
The Rocking Horse Winner (film)
English: A rocking horse in a tractor shape. Seen ...At this point in the story it is not apparent why Paul is so fixated on his horse taking him to the luck, but it is clear that he thinks about it more than a young boy should.
Paul's uncle soon learns that by ridding the rocking-horse for long periods of time Paul has an experience that somehow gives him the names of winning horses for races. "It's as if he had it from heaven." Paul was lucky because of his rocking-horse. Knowing who the winners of the races were going to be was working to Paul's advantage. He had already made eleven thousand five hundred pounds. But his luck was about to change.
Paul decided to give his mother five thousand pounds over the next five years on her birthday. But his mother was greedy, and she wanted it all right...