The Rocking Horse Winner Symbolism Essay

Although there are many symbols that could be addressed in D. H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner,” the most significant is actually the mother herself. Her son, Paul, is another symbol. In addition to Paul and his mother, Hester, eyes and religion are also important in the story. These symbols are used to show the themes of good versus evil and the seven deadly sins. There are various religious overtones in the story, starting with Paul telling his mother that God told him he was lucky and ending with the uncle telling the mother that her son was a “poor devil” (Lawrence 603-12). Also, several times throughout the story, similes are made in regards to things that Bassett says or does. One example from page 604 is “Bassett was serious as a church.” Another example is on page 606, “’It’s Master Paul, sir,’ said Bassett, …show more content…
‘It’s as if he had it from Heaven…’” With the religious overtones in the story, the seven deadly sins make sense as a theme. The mother, at one point or another, represents each of the seven deadly sins (pride, envy, wrath, sloth, greed, lust, and gluttony). The most prominent of these sins would obviously be greed, as a result of Hester’s love of money. Interestingly enough, “…pride is [said to be] the mother of all capital sin. Not only that, but it is said to prompt each of the other sins, as well as being present in them” (Frank 98). This can easily be observed in Hester, who felt she was “…superior to anyone in the neighborhood,” in addition to feeling that she had a social position to maintain (Lawrence 601). Her pride prompted her to “need” more money and caused her to become greedy. In fact, the