The Rocking Horse Winner Materialism Essay

D.H. Lawrence’s dramatic short story “The Rocking-Horse Winner” postulates the fact that having materialistic traits are the chief cause in the destruction of relationships. One of the main characters, Hester, is distracted from her family life by her envy of wealth and her own social status. Paul, Hester’s son, wants to win over his mother’s love by gambling at the derby and winning a significant amount of money, but his winnings result in his own tragic death. Through symbolism, characterization, D.H. Lawrence supports the actuality that materialism destroys all aspects any relationship. D.H. Lawrence uses many symbols to highlight the consequences of materialism such as Hester, the rocking horse, and the household. The house is symbolic …show more content…
Hester is greedy and desires for more than she needs. “I started it for mother…” Paul states while gambling at the derby, proving that Hester’s desires and greed are getting out of hand. Also, Hester’s feelings about her family heighten the main motive of her character. “...she felt they (the children) had been thrust upon her, and she could not love them,” showing her conflict with greed and her relationships. Hester desires for more, yet she had “started with all the advantages.” Paul’s pleasing and young character emphasizes the destruction of relationships due to materialism. Paul always is aiming to please Hester, but unfortunately due to her greed, Paul never offers enough. “...I’m absolutely sure-oh, absolutely! Mother, did I ever tell you? I’m lucky.” Paul is desperate to win over his mother, but can never offer enough to her. Paul is also young and doesn’t comprehend the financial aspects of the household, but he does understand the greed for money on an instinctive level. “What is luck, mother?” Paul asks and later says, “Well anyhow, I’m a lucky person.” Both characters collide with each other, but in the end, Hester’s greed kills their