Analysis

An analysis of the short story “The Rocking-Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence shows that the text has a chronological structure. The events take place over an undetermined period of time, and follow Paul’s way of dealing with the family’s financial issues. 

The main characters of the short story are Paul and his mother, Hester. The two characters are presented in contrast, as Paul wants to solve his mother’s financial problems, while Hester does not seem to notice his efforts. 

The story’s physical setting is England. The ending of the story takes place at the beginning of June, as we can guess from the mention of the Derby. The social setting looks at the family’s financial issues and poor money management, but also at the independence and freedom of women. 

The events presented in the story are told by a third-person narrator, who is outside the story and only observes the characters. 

The language used in the story is neutral. Dialogue highlights the relationships between characters, while symbols add to the mystery of the text. 

A full analysis of the short story can be found in the following pages.