In D.H. Lawrence’s short story, “The Rocking Horse Winner,” a family experiences the tragic and damaging effects of what greed and materialism does to destroy love and happiness. The character Hester is the symbolic of greed and displays the detrimental effects of materialism. Lawrence’s effective use of symbolism shows that all children require love and attention, and Paul’s rocking horse and the secretive whispers of the house signify the absolute need for the love of his mother. This is a heartbreaking tale about a money-oriented mother who refuses to love her children, and her son Paul who comes up with a plan to become lucky and bring her more money, hoping to earn her love, only in the end makes her more frantic and leads to Paul’s death. The author continues throughout the story to prove to the reader that covetousness and disregard of a parent can contribute to the corrosion of an innocent, young child. How, greed destroys love, affection, and in regrettably in this particular story, life. One of the main symbols in this story is Paul’s mother, Hester. Hester represents greed and…show more content… Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief.” (1 Timothy 6:10) Parents are so important in a child’s development in life, and can either build up or destroy a child’s spirit in a second. In “The Rocking Horse Winner,” Hester’s obsession and love of money eventually led to the self-destruction and death of her son. Her constant dissatisfaction with her life caused her to disregard the needs of her children, and in turn caused her son Paul to push himself to death to give her that which she loved more than anything else. Paul’s death is a criticism of materialism and how it can corrode mankind, cautioning mankind to be weary of greed and it’s ability to destroy everything it touches, and instead focus more on important things that money cannot buy, like the love of
