Who Is To Blame For Paul's Death

Lucky or Dead?

(Critical Analysis of blame in The Rocking Horse Winner) The death of Paul in, Rocking Horse Winner by D. H. Lawrence is a death that has many layers to it. Did Paul die as a result of what he was doing, or was the seizure something that was always going to happen? It is hinted in the story that Paul had fever symptoms, which is likely what actually killed him. However that fever was probably caused as a result of over work on his rocking horse and possibly from the emotional battle Paul was fighting with his mother. There are a few obvious reasons as to why Paul died, but who is to blame for such a tragedy? Is it his mother? His family? Himself? One thing is for sure, there is no single person to blame for it all and by looking

H. Lawrence's maternal character, Hester, is the most obvious person to blame for Paul’s death. Hester clearly dislikes her children even though she pretends to love them to keep up appearances. Her act does not fool Paul, though. He knows that his mother does not really love or care for him as much as she fully could, and he wants nothing more than all her love. Hester told Paul in the story that, “if you are lucky you have money.” She makes it very clear that all she wants in life is more money. It is her greed that makes Paul believe that he has to ride his horse and be lucky to earn his mother’s love. Additionally, Hester never worries about the obviously decreasing physical state of her son. There are many signs that suggest what Paul is doing is very harmful to his body, but Hester does not care to notice she only wants to fulfill her greed. Ultimately, it is the lack of love for her son that kills Paul. If Hester would have just extended more genuine love to Paul and cared about his wellbeing he never would have came close to his unfortunate

Oscar was the one who originally found out about Paul’s “luck” and he fuels the fire. Oscar gives Paul money to make a bet on the next horse race, which he wins. From that point on Oscar does nothing and says nothing about what might be wrong with what they are doing to Paul. He does at one point have his doubts, but he is to overcome with greed to care about his nephew's life. When Paul makes a bet and becomes very ill Oscar does nothing to help, but take the winning horse name and runs off to place his bet. Oscar had the power to help Paul in many ways, but was to greedy to care and instead aided in his