The Rocking Horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence - Research Paper Example

?The Rocking Horse Winner The 20th century witnessed an explosion of literature that challenged the depths of philosophical and psychological investigation. One of the most prominent writers in the 20th century canon of literature is D.H. Lawrence. Through his novels and short stories he both pushed the boundaries on what is acceptable in literature and explored the subconscious in narrative form within the spectrum of the psychoanalytic understandings of his cultural milieu. Lawrence’s short story The Rocking Horse Winner explores the both prominent dramatic concerns of poverty, as well as underlining psychological concerns of motivation and self-acceptance. This essay examines The Rocking Horse Winner through an analysis of the literary techniques Lawrence uses to establish the story’s meaning. One of the most prominent literary techniques Lawrence uses in the Rocking Horse Winner is symbolism. One of the cyclical themes in the text is the reference to money. Lawrence consistently notes that, “the house came to be haunted by the unspoken phrase: There must be more money!” (Lawrence). This personification of the house as a living entity is indeed a number of prominent technique implemented throughout the text. Still, the symbolism in this recurrence is evident. In these regards, it’s has been proposed that, “these imaginary voices represent the greed and materialistic attitude of Paul’s mother. Paul feels surrounded by the voices, just like he is surrounded by the influence of materialism” (Douglas, p. 102). While the home’s voices about such ostensibly function as a cursory plot element, upon deeper consideration it’s clear that this cyclical reference to poverty functions as a means of establishing the characters’ subconscious concerns. Another major use of symbolism occurs in Paul’s interaction with the rocking horse. While there is a variety of literary techniques associated with Lawrence’s implementation of this narrative device one of the prominent such symbolic aspects is the rocking horse as a representation of sexuality. The symbolic realms of this concern in a variety of ways with the obvious implication the similarity between the sexual act and the furious means by which the boy rides the horse. In these regards, Lawrence refers to the rocking horse as ‘mount’ that is ‘forced’ ahead in a ‘furious ride’. The rocking horse also constitutes broader ranging symbolic themes. One considers the nature of the horse as perpetually remaining in place as a symbolic comment on the futility of an overly capitalistic emphasis on the pursuit of the dollar. Critics have noted “The image of a boy rocking himself to illness and death on a toy horse suggests a powerful and upsetting metaphor for a child's burning ambition and distress” (Wolfreys, p. 79). Within the context of the current Western economic recession this symbolic concern is particularly apt. Another prominent technique Lawrence implements is the infusion of psychoanalytical perspectives on humanity in the story’s narrative. One of the most overarching such implementations of this psychology occurs in terms of the rocking horse itself. Throughout the text Lawrence uses the rocking horse as a central area of focus. One considers the Oedipal implications in this act and in the boy’s actions throughout the text. Critics have even noted that there is a, “link between the main character Paul’s attachment to his hobbyhorse and to Freud’s histories, Little Hans and the Wolf Man…the Wolf Man is explicitly said to have ‘uncanny feelings about horses” (Masschelein, p. 237). One notes that Paul’s motivation throughout the text operates as he attempts to gain enough money to support his mother and their family. To some degree then Paul has attempted to overtake his father’s place through becoming the family’s primary breadwinner. Another exploration of psychoanalytic themes occurs as the house itself emanates whispers. Lawrence states, “The house had been "whispering" worse that ever lately, and, even in spite of his luck, Paul could not bear up against it” (Lawrence). In this context of understanding the personification of the house as whispering is not meant to be taken literally, but instead as a means of demonstrating the characters’ subconscious thoughts and impulses. Ultimately, it’s clear that Lawrence was greatly influenced by psychoanalytic theory in constructing the text. Another prominent exploration throughout the text is the consideration of luck. Luck is a prominent theme as it constitutes the family’s major paradigm on success. This theme is apparent from the text’s very first line as Lawrence writes, “There was a woman who was beautiful, who started with all the advantages, yet she had no luck” (Lawrence). For Paul and his mother success is not something that is achieved through hard work, but instead is something that is attained through a sort of fate. Paul takes this notion to hyperbolic extremes as he sets out to achieve success through gambling on horses and then giving the money to his mother. It’s clear that Lawrence implements this theme to ironic ends as even after Paul’s mother receives the money it is spend frivolously. This seems to be a comment on a social perspective that simply views success not in terms of savings, hard work, and frugality, but as emerging from a sort of transcendental fate. One considers the contemporary situation in the United States where Occupy Wall Street protestors have largely adopted a view on income disparity that some argue is overly reliant on negating personal responsibility. In these regards, it’s clear that Lawrence’s early 20th century concerns remain prevalent in the 21st century cultural climate. In conclusion, this essay has examined D.H. Lawrence’s Rocking Horse Winner in terms of the literary techniques that are implemented in the text’s meaning making system. In this context of understanding, prominent themes of symbolism, the implementation of psychoanalytic theory, as well as a concern with fate are demonstrated to be prominent within the text. While Lawrence’s short story was written close to a century ago, it’s clear that because of the deep-rooted universalism of many of these concerns it remains relevant in modern society. References Douglas, Steven. D.H. Lawrence and 20th Century Modernism. New York: Templeton Press. Lawrence , D.H.. "The Rocking Horse Winner." readytogobooks. N.p., 2009. Web. 14 Nov 2011. . Masschelein, Anneleen. The Unconcept: The Freudian Uncanny in Late-Twentieth- Century Theory. New York: State University of New York, 2011. Wolfreys, Justine. Repressed Desire: Proust, Lawrence, & Joyce. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. 2003. Read More