The Rocking-Horse Winner is a short story written by D.H. Lawrence. It is about a boy named Paul who is desperate to win his mother’s love and approval. He begins to ride his rocking-horse obsessively, convinced that he can identify the winning horses in imaginary races. Horse racing is a major symbol in the story, representing Paul’s desperate search for love and approval.
Horse Racing as a Symbol of Paul’s Desperation
The horse racing symbolizes Paul’s desperate search for love and approval. Paul’s mother is a cold and distant figure who is never satisfied with the money her husband makes. Paul is desperate to win her love, and so he begins to ride his rocking-horse obsessively, convinced that he can identify the winning horses in imaginary races. His obsession eventually leads to his death.
Horse Racing as a Symbol of Greed and Materialism
Horse racing also symbolizes greed and materialism in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Paul’s mother is obsessed with money and the idea of being “lucky”. She is constantly in search of more money and is never satisfied with what she has. Paul’s obsession with horse racing reflects his mother’s obsession with money and her materialistic lifestyle.
Horse Racing as a Symbol of Fate and Chance
Horse racing is also a symbol of fate and chance in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Paul is convinced that he can identify the winning horses in imaginary races, but in the end it is all just a matter of luck. This reflects the idea that fate and chance are unpredictable and that no matter how hard we try, we cannot control the outcome.
Horse Racing as a Symbol of Death
Horse racing is also a symbol of death in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Paul’s obsession with horse racing ultimately leads to his death. This reflects the idea that sometimes our obsession with something can lead to our downfall.
Horse Racing as a Symbol of Escape
The horse racing also symbolizes escape in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Paul is desperate to escape his cold and distant mother, and so he begins to ride his rocking-horse obsessively. This allows him to escape into a world of his own, where he can forget about his problems and focus on his imaginary races.
Horse Racing as a Symbol of Hope
Horse racing is also a symbol of hope in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Paul is desperate to win his mother’s love, and so he holds onto the hope that he can identify the winning horses in imaginary races. This reflects the idea that sometimes we have to cling onto hope, even when it seems impossible.
Horse Racing as a Symbol of Unconditional Love
Horse racing is also a symbol of unconditional love in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Despite Paul’s desperate search for his mother’s love and approval, she remains cold and distant. This reflects the idea that sometimes love is not always tied to conditions and that it can be unconditional.
Horse Racing as a Symbol of Ambition
Horse racing is also a symbol of ambition in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Paul is determined to win his mother’s love and approval, and so he persists in his quest to identify the winning horses in imaginary races. This reflects the idea that ambition can be a powerful force in our lives.
Horse Racing as a Symbol of Self-Destruction
Horse racing is also a symbol of self-destruction in The Rocking-Horse Winner. Paul’s obsession with horse racing leads to his death, reflecting the idea that sometimes our own ambitions can be our undoing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, horse racing is a major symbol in The Rocking-Horse Winner. It symbolizes Paul’s desperate search for love and approval, greed and materialism, fate and chance, death, escape, hope, unconditional love, ambition, and self-destruction. All of these symbols come together to create a powerful story about the search for love, approval, and fulfillment.