Comparing and Contrasting "The Rocking-Horse Winner" by D.H. Lawrence and Another Short Story

 
Comparing and Contrasting "The Rocking-Horse Winner" by D.H. Lawrence and Another Short Story
D.H. Lawrence's short story "The Rocking-Horse Winner" is a psychological exploration of the impact of materialism and the obsession with wealth on family dynamics. In this comparison, we will focus on the theme of obsession, the psychological consequences of desire, and the impact on family relationships. To contrast these themes, we will examine another short story, possibly "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson or "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, to highlight similarities and differences in how these authors approach these issues.




1. Thematic Comparison: Materialism and Obsession
"The Rocking-Horse Winner"
In "The Rocking-Horse Winner", the central theme revolves around the destructive obsession with money and the illusion of wealth. The story focuses on a young boy, Paul, who seeks to win his mother's love and approval by fulfilling her unspoken wish for money. His mother, Hester, is constantly dissatisfied with their financial situation and believes that happiness can be bought with wealth. Paul becomes fixated on gambling, riding his rocking-horse in a trance-like state to predict the winners of horse races, driven by his desire to earn money to placate his mother’s cravings.


 	

Obsession with Wealth: Paul’s obsession with winning money to make his mother happy leads to a tragic end. The more he wins, the more his mother's desire for money grows, perpetuating the vicious cycle. This obsession takes a physical toll on Paul, ultimately leading to his death. The story critiques the damaging effects of materialism and how the pursuit of wealth can destroy relationships and a person's well-being.


Comparison Story – "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson
In Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery", the theme of blind tradition and societal obsession with ritual also reflects a deep, destructive obsession, but it is not with wealth. The townspeople are obsessed with maintaining a ritual, the lottery, which culminates in the sacrifice of an innocent person, Tessie Hutchinson, in the name of community unity and prosperity. Like in "The Rocking-Horse Winner", the obsession with an external force (whether wealth or ritual) leads to devastating consequences for the individual.


 	

Obsession with Ritual: While the obsession in "The Rocking-Horse Winner" is personal and material (the mother’s obsession with wealth), the obsession in "The Lottery" is collective and ritualistic. In both cases, individual well-being is sacrificed for the continuation of a destructive but culturally ingrained force. Tessie Hutchinson's death mirrors the sacrifice of Paul's life, showing how unchecked obsession can lead to a tragic outcome.





2. Psychological Consequences of Desire
"The Rocking-Horse Winner"
In Lawrence's story, the psychological consequences of Paul’s desire to win money for his mother are devastating. His obsession with gambling becomes so all-consuming that he eventually loses his sense of self. As Paul becomes more fixated on predicting horse race winners, he enters a state of delusion, believing that winning money will bring him the love he craves from his mother. The psychological strain and self-destructive nature of his obsession ultimately lead to his death.


 	

Psychological Dissociation: Paul's dissociation from reality is evident when he rides his rocking-horse, almost as if in a trance, seeking to appease his mother’s insatiable need for money. His descent into madness highlights the damaging effect of unresolved psychological needs, as Paul substitutes his psychological and emotional fulfillment with an obsessive need for material wealth.


Comparison Story – "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
In "The Gift of the Magi", the psychological consequence of desire is also examined but from a different perspective. In this story, the desire to give a meaningful gift leads to the self-sacrifice of the two main characters, Della and Jim. Della sells her long hair to buy Jim a gift, while Jim sells his watch to buy Della a gift. The psychological effect of their love and desire to give is not destructive, but rather selfless and motivated by love and sacrifice.


 	

Self-Sacrifice vs. Destructive Obsession: In contrast to Paul's self-destruction in "The Rocking-Horse Winner", the psychological consequences of Della and Jim’s desires are self-sacrificial but not ultimately harmful. Their desire for the well-being of the other leads to an ironic twist, where the value of their gifts is nullified by the sacrifices they made, but it also highlights the purity of love. This contrasts with the negative psychological toll in "The Rocking-Horse Winner", where the desire for money and approval ultimately consumes Paul and leads to his tragic death.





3. Family Relationships and Sacrifice
"The Rocking-Horse Winner"
In "The Rocking-Horse Winner", family relationships, particularly the relationship between Paul and his mother, are fraught with tension and miscommunication. Paul’s desire to win money is driven by his belief that his mother’s affection and approval are linked to financial success. This lack of emotional connection between them is a major source of conflict. Hester, who loves her children but is consumed by her materialistic desires, is oblivious to the psychological toll her demands have on Paul.


 	

Materialism and Emotional Disconnect: The mother’s emotional neglect and obsession with money contribute to Paul’s tragic end. Paul’s act of sacrificing his well-being for the sake of his mother’s approval shows how the material obsession of one family member can deteriorate family bonds. The tragic nature of the story lies in the failure to connect emotionally within the family, where material success is seen as more important than genuine affection.


Comparison Story – "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
In contrast, "The Gift of the Magi" presents family relationships in a more positive light, showing how love and self-sacrifice can strengthen bonds. While material wealth is also a theme, it is not the primary focus. Della and Jim’s sacrifice is a demonstration of love and devotion, showing that genuine affection and selflessness can triumph over material wealth. Their willingness to sacrifice something precious for the other person represents the depth of their emotional connection, unlike the emotional distance seen in "The Rocking-Horse Winner".


 	

Love vs. Materialism: In "The Gift of the Magi", the love between Jim and Della leads to a sacrifice that, although ultimately ironic, underscores the depth of their affection for one another. In contrast, "The Rocking-Horse Winner" shows how materialism can drive a wedge between family members, creating emotional voids that cannot be filled with wealth.





4. Conclusion: The Power of Desire and Its Impact on Individuals and Families
Both "The Rocking-Horse Winner" and "The Gift of the Magi" explore the consequences of desire, particularly material desire, but they do so in vastly different ways. In "The Rocking-Horse Winner", the destructive obsession with wealth and lack of emotional connection lead to a tragic and devastating end, illustrating how the pursuit of money can erode family bonds and ultimately result in personal ruin. In contrast, "The Gift of the Magi" showcases self-sacrifice and love within a family unit, where material sacrifice is seen as an act of devotion that strengthens familial ties, even though it results in irony.
While both stories deal with the theme of desire and family relationships, their outcomes highlight the power of love and sacrifice in one case and the danger of obsession with materialism in the other. Through these two contrasting approaches, Joyce and O. Henry reveal the profound psychological and emotional consequences of human desires and how they can either lead to self-destruction or deepen personal connections.