The Rocking-Horse Winner By D.H. Lawrance (Questions and Answers)

     The Rocking-Horse Winner

By D.H. Lawrance

 

Q: What was the reason for young Paul’s restlessness at the beginning of the story? How did it find expression?

 

Ans. Paul’s restlessness stemmed from the constant tension in his household over the lack of money. His mother, despite having all the appearances of wealth, was never satisfied and believed herself to be unlucky, which created a haunting sense of insufficiency and dissatisfaction in the home. Paul internalized this anxiety and became obsessed with finding a way to bring luck and money to his family. This restlessness found expression in his frenzied rides on his rocking-horse, during which he believed he could determine the winners of upcoming horse races, thus securing the money his mother so desperately desired.

 

Q: Why do you think Paul’s mother was not satisfied with the yearly birthday gift of 1000 pounds for five years.

 

Ans. Paul’s mother was not satisfied with the yearly gift of 1000 pounds because her desire for wealth was insatiable. She believed that no matter how much money she had, it was never enough to alleviate the sense of financial insecurity that plagued her. The story suggests that her dissatisfaction was less about the actual amount of money and more about a deeper emotional and psychological void- her belief that she was unlucky and that this “unluckiness” kept her from ever feeling truly fulfilled or content.

 

Q: What was the reason for the anxiety of Paul’s mother as he grew older?

 

Ans. As Paul grew older, his mother became increasingly anxious because she noticed the toll his obsession with luck and money was taking on him. She observed that Paul was becoming more intense, secretive, and physically drained, especially as his predictions became more accurate and profitable. Her anxiety was also fuelled by the growing sense of unease about how Paul was acquiring the money, despite her not fully understanding the source of his winning.

 

Q: Paul’s final bet made the family rich but cost him his life. Explain.

 

Ans. Paul’s final bet on the Derby was his most intense and desperate effort to secure his mother’s love and to finally her insatiable desire for wealth. He rode his rocking-horse with such fervor that it ultimately led to his physical collapse. Although he successfully predicted the winning horse, earning a massive fortune for his family, the strain of this final effort was too much for his body to bear, and he died shortly afterward. The tragic irony is that while he succeeded in making his family rich, the cost was his own life, and the wealth acquired was of little comfort in the face of his death.

 

Q: Luck is necessary for success. Discuss.

 

Ans. In the context of the story, luck is portrayed as a crucial, almost mystical element in achieving success. Paul’s mother believed that their lack of wealth was due to their lack of luck. This belief drives Paul to seek luck obsessively, equating it with money and his mother’s happiness. The story suggests that while luck can lead to material success, it is also unpredictable and comes at a great cost, as seen in Paul’s tragic fate.

 

Q: Although Paul’s mother liked to be rich, she did not approve of betting on horses. Discuss.

 

Ans. Paul’s mother’s disapproval of betting on horses stems from the social stigma attached to gambling and her own complex relationship with wealth. She yearned for wealth and social status but considered gambling to be a morally dubious way of acquiring it. Her contradictory stance highlights her internal conflict desires for the benefits of wealth but is uncomfortable with the means of acquiring it, particularly through what she sees as a reckless and uncertain endeavor like betting.

 

Q: What were the voices that Paul heard? Did they lead him to success in the real sense?

 

Ans. The voices that Paul heard were a manifestation of the anxiety and greed that permeated his household. They whispered to him that “there must be more money,”

driving him to his obsessive pursuit of luck through the rocking-horse. While these voices led him to financial success, they did not bring him happiness or peace. In the real sense, they led to his downfall, as his relentless pursuit of money ultimately cost him his life, leaving behind a hollow victory.

 

Q: Examine the communication channels in the story between the following characters.

 

Paul and his mother: The communication between Paul and his mother is strained and indirect. Paul desperately seeks his mother’s approval and love, but she is emotionally distant and preoccupied with her own desires. Their conversations are often superficial, with Paul’s mother unaware of the depth of Paul’s efforts to secure her happiness.

 

Paul and Basset: Paul’s relationship with Bassett, the family gardener, is one of trust and secrecy. Bassett becomes Paul’s confidant and partner in his betting ventures. Their communication is more open and honest than Paul’s interactions with his mother, as Bassett understands and supports Paul’s pursuit of luck.

 

Paul and his uncle: Paul’s uncle, Oscar Cresswell, is intrigued by Paul’s betting activities and becomes involved in them, though he does not fully understand the psychological toll it takes on Paul. Their communication is somewhat playful and conspiratorial, with Oscar encouraging Paul’s bets without realizing the danger it poses to the boy.

 

Bassett and Paul’s uncle: Bassett and Paul’s uncle communicate primarily about Paul’s betting successes. Bassett respects Oscar as a figure of authority but remains loyal to Paul, often mediating between the two and ensuring that Paul’s wishes are followed.

 

Paul’s mother and his uncle: The communication between Paul’s mother and his uncle is distant and somewhat formal. They do not discuss Paul’s activities openly, and there is a lack of genuine connection between them. Oscar is more aware of Paul’s situation than his mother, but he does not effectively communicate his concerns to her.

 

Q: How has the author linked the symbol of the rocking-horse to Paul’s triumphs at the races?

 

Ans. The rocking-horse in the story symbolizes Paul’s desperate attempt to gain control over his fate and secure his mother’s love. Each time Paul rides the horse, he enters a trance-like state where he believes he can determine the winner of the next race. The horse becomes a conduit for Paul’s obsessive need to prove his luck and worth. The more successful Paul becomes in his predictions, the more he relies on the rocking-horse, to the point where it becomes both a symbol of his success and the instrument of his downfall. The rocking-horse’s wild, repetitive motion mirrors Paul’s escalating desperation, culminating in his final, fatal ride.

 

Q: The ending of the story is an instance of irony. Suppose Paul had not died at the end, how would you have reacted to the story?

 

Ans. If Paul had not died at the end, the story would have taken on a different tone, potentially diminishing its tragic impact. The irony of Paul’s death-where he achieves his goal but pays the ultimate price-serves to underscore the futility of his quest for luck and wealth. If Paul had survived, the story might have shifted towards a critique of materialism without the same sense of tragic loss. However, his survival could have opened up questions about the long-term consequences of his obsession, potentially leading to a more nuanced exploration of how such pursuits affect one’s life and relationships. The ending as it stands, with Paul’s death, reinforces the story’s message about the dangers of equating luck with happiness and the ultimate emptiness of material success.