The characters in the Rocking-Horse Winner are mostly static. Paul, however is a dynamic character. Paul's mother, Hester "was a woman who was beautiful, who started with all the advantages, yet she had no luck. She married for love, and the love turned to dust.... when her children were present, she always felt the center of her heart go hard" (Gwynn 75). Paul, on the other hand is a boy who is always trying to gain the acceptance and approval of his mother. Paul knows that his mother has a hard heart, and it motivates him to be lucky. Paul's mother gives him the impression that to be lucky is to have money. When Paul asks "What is luck, mother?", his mother responds "It's what causes you to have money. If you're lucky you have money. That's why it's better to be born lucky than rich. If you're rich, you may lose your money. But if you're lucky, you will always get more money" (Gwynn 77). Both Paul's mother and his house seem to have an obsession with money. Paul!
             and his two sisters can always hear the house whispering "There must be more money! There must be more money" (Gwynn 76). Paul, like any normal child, wants his mother to accept and love him. Paul thinks that by being lucky or making money, he can gain the approval and acceptance of his mother.
             Personification is used by the house and with Paul and his rocking horse. The house whispers to the children and Paul believes that his horse tells him the names of the wining horses to bet on. Paul rides his rocking horse until he knows the name of the horse to bet on. "He would sit on his big rocking horse, charging madly into space, with a frenzy.... wildly the horse careered, the waving dark hair of the boy tossed, his eyes had a strange glare in them....Now, take me to where there is luck! Now take me!....So he would mount again, and start on his furious ride, hoping at last to get there. He knew he could get there" (Gwynn 78
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