Symbols are a very important aspect of literature. This fact is prominent in many stories, one being "The Horse Dealer's Daughter" written by D.H. Lawrence. Set in England in the 1920s, this story takes place on a horse ranch owned by a formerly wealthy man, Joseph Pervin. Along with Joseph there lives his four children, Joe, Mabel, Fred, and Malcolm. The untimely demise of this man leaves his sons and daughter with the responsibility of selling the ranch and managing the rather large debt he so recently endowed upon them. This story begins with the last meeting of the siblings around the breakfast table and finishes as they each go their separate ways, focusing on Mabel. Throughout this transition, symbols such as gloomy weather, water, horses, and fire represent changes and feelings experienced by the characters. These help the reader more clearly understand the life struggles dealt with by each individual.
             The setting of the story puts great emphasis on the mood and disposition of characters. It begins with the siblings seated around the "desolate breakfast table" (paragraph 2) in the "dreary dining room" (paragraph 2) trying to make "desultory consultation" (paragraph 2). The use of adjectives to accentuate the surroundings already sets a darkness for the story; even before the mention of the "grey, wintry day" (paragraph 99). Giving the impression of gloom and death, all of the characters realize that "this is the last time" (paragraph 4) for many things on many levels. For instance, being that the horse ranch is finished, it is the last time the horses would "[be] taken for exercise" (paragraph 4). Also, due to the decease of their father, this is the last time all four siblings would be sitting together at the same table in their childhood home; possibly even the last time they are together at all. Even the dog seems to have a premonition of oncoming ch...