The Devil’s in the Details: D.H Lawrence’s “the Rocking-Horse Winner”
The Devil’s in the Details: D.H Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
D.H Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner” is an uncanny spin on the bargain with the devil literary motif that contains some interesting biblical allusions. The story opens with a woman named Hester, who shares many similarities with Esther of biblical fame. For example, Hester is described as “a woman who was beautiful, who started with all the advantages, yet she had no luck.” She marries an unlucky man and carries a guilty resentment for her children, which unravels into a fatal drama. By comparison, Esther assumes the position of Xerxes’ queen but is never able to enjoy it as she is thrust into her own drama of life and death. Each woman’s struggle reveals the flawed integrity of her character, and her desperate attempts to maintain airs. As the only person who can save the Jews in Persia, Esther refuses to face the king until her own life is threatened. Hester’s secret resentment for her children drives her to display a superficial love for them. Hester is praised by others as being “such a good mother,” as Esther is lauded as the heroine of the Jews. In each case, appearances trump authenticity, belying inward corruption, and the inevitable decay that follows. Esther’s story resolves with her ruthless vengeance against Haman, and Hester’s story resolves with Paul’s deliverance in his deal with the devil. From very early in the story, we learn that Hester’s chief desire is to maintain her social position. “…they always felt an anxiety in the house. There was never enough money… not nearly enough for the social position which they had to keep up.” Naturally, money is the means by which this artificial status is preserved, so Hester feels this compulsion towards this very material lifestyle, while neglecting her children genuine love. Hester’s lack of motherly love serves as the source of Paul’s chief desire, to win her attention and stop the “whispers in the house.”
D.H Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner” is an uncanny spin on the bargain with the devil literary motif that contains some interesting biblical allusions. The story opens with a woman named Hester, who shares many similarities with Esther of biblical fame. For example, Hester is described as “a woman who was beautiful, who started with all the advantages, yet she had no luck.” She marries an unlucky man and carries a guilty resentment for her children, which unravels into a fatal drama. By comparison, Esther assumes the position of Xerxes’ queen but is never able to enjoy it as she is thrust into her own drama of life and death. Each woman’s struggle reveals the flawed integrity of her character, and her desperate attempts to maintain airs. As the only person who can save the Jews in Persia, Esther refuses to face the king until her own life is threatened. Hester’s secret resentment for her children drives her to display a superficial love for them. Hester is praised by others as being “such a good mother,” as Esther is lauded as the heroine of the Jews. In each case, appearances trump authenticity, belying inward corruption, and the inevitable decay that follows. Esther’s story resolves with her ruthless vengeance against Haman, and Hester’s story resolves with Paul’s deliverance in his deal with the devil. From very early in the story, we learn that Hester’s chief desire is to maintain her social position. “…they always felt an anxiety in the house. There was never enough money… not nearly enough for the social position which they had to keep up.” Naturally, money is the means by which this artificial status is preserved, so Hester feels this compulsion towards this very material lifestyle, while neglecting her children genuine love. Hester’s lack of motherly love serves as the source of Paul’s chief desire, to win her attention and stop the “whispers in the house.”