The Rocking Horse Winner
D.J. Lawrence writes in his short story, "The Rocking Horse Winner" that ". . . there must be more money. Oh, now, now! Now-there must be more money-more than ever!. . . " (653). Paul, the son, hears these words over and over as greed "whispers" them all around his family's home, all of the time, and even more so after giving five thousand dollars (which he won through his sixth sense) to his mother anonymously. The whole family hears it, though no one ever speaks of it - ever. Despite the fact that his relationship with his mother is a cold one, he feels a great need to help her feel his luck, which she thinks she has completely lost because of her unlucky husband. Paul also wants to quiet the house of the whispers, but in secrecy. He does this through his uncle Oscar, their gardener, Bassett, and the horse races. Paul's mother obviously has a lot of resentment for marrying her unlucky husband and also for her children. It is plain to see there is a below-normal level of love residing in their home. Lawrence writes that she idiotically married for love instead of luck a
Paul and his mother talk to each other very coldly, although they do talk quite often. The only beneficial items that the money was spent on were a tutor for Paul and also his tuition to Eton, his father's alma mater. Unfortunately, all of this tragically results in a death and a deadly message that warns every reader to beware!. Paul has a sixth sense for "picking a winner" when it comes to the horse races. When he doesn't have the slightest idea, he acts very cautiously, because that is where he mainly takes his losses (651). She shows her "love" only through presents. She feels her heart harden when she is in the presence of others. She also might even be a bit intimidated by him and his dark, close-set, fiery blue eyes. He is willing to bet it all: a truthful relationship with his mother, gaining an unhealthy gambling habit, and ultimately losing his life. Fortunately, he wasn't bitten by the greed bug. At every holiday, the nursery is filled with the most extravagant presents imaginable. They feel a great need to show everyone up, even when their pocketbooks have been exercised to the maximum amount possible. The anonymous present of five thousand dollars (to be paid out in one thousand dollar sums for five successive years) that Paul gave to his mother for her birthday was spent carelessly on new furniture and flowers during the winter (which was not common at all during those times) instead of paying off the writs that came into the home each and every day (652-3). When he has an idea of who the winning horse is, he bets only a part of his bank.
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Acceptance Essays
