Symbolism In David Herbert Lawrence's The Rocking-Horse Winner

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Since we were kids, we have been hearing the saying, “money rules the world” and we became accustomed to needing money to survive but when does this genuine need leads to greed? “The Rocking-Horse Winner”, a story written by David Herbert Lawrence is an example of the negative power of loving money, how it can destroy one’s ability to feel love towards others and its effects on loved ones. A verse of the Bible, which is found in the book 1 Timothy chapter 10, verse 6 states,“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after... pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Lawrence shows this belief by using symbolism such as the mother’s character in the story, the protagonist’s rocking horse, and the whispering of the house, to convey his message. In addition, Lawrence formed characters that are easily relatable to make his message be easily applicable to all. As the story begins, we are introduced by one of the main characters, Hester, a wife and a mother of the protagonist Paul and his two sisters. Contrary to the traditional way that mothers are represented, …show more content…
Through the use of symbolism such as the nature of a character, the meaning of the title and whispering of the house that both of those two references lived in, Lawrence’s message that being greedy leads to destruction of one’s ability to feel love towards others and it also has a negative effects on loved ones is transmitted across smoothly. This is to show that people, especially children, need and require love and affirmation. It is said that, “The love of money is the root to all kinds of evil”, and Lawrence clearly shows the truth in this Bible verse as the greed of a mother became like an evil force that was not able to be stopped and that force infected her children and lead to the death of one of

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