Through reading “Paul’s Case” by Willa Cather and “The Rocking Horse Winner by D. H Lawrence, the reader can discern that these stories serve as cautionary tales against materialism and the insatiable desire for all that it brings. Both stories revolve around two protagonists named Paul who find themselves engulfed in the challenging predicament of yearning for greater wealth. A multitude of external influences directly contribute to their belief that they lack sufficient possessions. Consequently, feeling isolated, both boys resort to harmful actions that compromise their well-being solely to attain a sense of acceptance.
In conclusion, due to financial constraints, both Pauls compromise their values in their pursuit of money. Both characters are influenced by external factors that make them believe they need more than what they currently possess. It is important to note that neither of the Pauls are homeless or worried about their next meal. However, the reference to “outside forces” signifies circumstances beyond their control in both stories.
The term in “The Rocking Horse Winner” refers to the house and gift of luck. In “Paul’s Case,” the external force is being born into a middle class family instead of one of wealth and power. In the “Rocking Horse Winner,” Paul feels pressured to silence the voices that echo throughout his house. The house repeatedly murmurs, “There must be more money, there must be more money!” (805.) To silence the whispers, he becomes fixated on winning money.
The boy believes that by providing additional money, the house will be content and the bothersome whispering will cease. When he observes his mother spending money on additional items, he notices that the whispers grow louder “…Oh-h-h; There must be more more money. Oh now, now-w! Now-w-w- There must be more money” (812.). Paul is amazed by the outcome of obtaining more money and once again feels compelled to earn even more. He strives to achieve a greater victory than what he has already earned, eventually resulting in a Derby Championship.
While Paul’s mother explains that money is everything, he becomes fascinated by the concept of “luck.” She defines luck as the force that leads to having money, stating that being lucky is preferable to being born rich because luck ensures a continuous source of wealth. This understanding shapes Paul’s belief that he himself is lucky, unlike his father. However, this distorted interpretation ultimately drives him deeper into his gambling obsession.
His mother openly expressed her disappointment and belief that marrying his father was a turn for the worse. She admitted, “Before I married, I used to think I was lucky. Now I believe I am very unlucky indeed” (806). This revelation fueled Paul’s determination to prove his mother wrong and show that he was truly lucky. He yearned for genuine acceptance and love from her. The conflicting emotions surrounding luck drove Paul to desire more than what he already had. Being caught between two different environments, both versions of Paul started feeling increasingly isolated and alienated in their own unique ways.
These boys are consumed by intense emotions that lead them to engage in destructive behaviors. Regardless of their age, the consequences of their actions have a paralyzing effect on each person. In “The Rocking Horse Winner,” Paul receives a rocking horse as a Christmas gift and becomes unusually attached to it. He develops an uncanny intuition that allows him to accurately predict race winners. The continual whispers from the house convince Paul that he alone possesses the power to silence them.
Feeling that his accurate predictions of winning horses can earn him genuine love from his mother, Paul becomes obsessed with making money. As he sits comfortably in his own home, the whispers demanding more money become increasingly intense: “there must be more money! – more than ever! More than ever!” (812.) With the upcoming Derby, Paul believes that it presents his next major opportunity for earning. He isolates himself from the actual horse races and locks himself in his room, riding his imaginary horse restlessly two nights before the Derby.
After his mother leaves the house and it gets dark, he anxiously rides his horse. When his mother comes back to check on Paul, she hears a familiar noise, but can’t place it. The noise continues and drives her mad. When she opens Paul’s door, he collapses.
Despite accurately predicting the winning horse, Paul dies from exhaustion caused by riding. If he hadn’t felt isolated in his family as the only one who could silence the whispers, he wouldn’t have invested so much energy into riding the horse. Ultimately, this would have saved him from destruction.
Despite his financial intelligence, the protagonist Paul in “Paul’s Case” is not living the wealthy lifestyle he believes he deserves. Working at Carnegie Hall amongst influential and affluent individuals only intensifies his envy of their lives. Unable to attain their level of wealth, Paul decides to devise a plan to escape from his miserable existence.
The protagonist, driven by a desire for a better life, boldly decides to steal money from his job and unhesitatingly puts the bank notes into his pocket. He then boards a night train bound for New York. Regrettably, he quickly exhausts all of the stolen funds within just one week. Upon discovering that his father is actively searching for him in New York, he realizes that hiding is no longer a viable option. However, the fear of facing consequences and punishment if he returns to middle-class society looms over him. Nevertheless, despite this fear, he contemplates going back and knows precisely what actions must be taken. Suddenly startled by the sound of an approaching train, he seizes the opportune moment and jumps off. Ultimately, Paul chooses to end his own life because experiencing wealth and luxury has radically altered his perception of existence. The mere thought of returning home feels akin to revisiting a horrific nightmare overflowing with shame and humiliation – something he deems unworthy. Both narratives featuring Pauls demonstrate their acquisition of money at a young age but at an immense cost to their morals, traditional values, and personal character. Money becomes their sole aspiration propelling them beyond their limits while challenging societal norms typically unquestioned by individuals their age
Paul, the character from “The Rocking Horse Winner,” believes that earning more money for his mother will silence the whispers in their house. He discovers he can predict winning horses and make money by gambling with his uncle. However, gambling is an addictive game unsuitable for a child like Paul. Despite his mother’s warning about the destructive nature of their gambling family, Paul continues to gamble. He pleads with his uncle not to tell his mother the truth because he fears she will interfere, and the uncle agrees to keep it hidden.
Paul’s insatiable desire for wealth in the story “Paul’s Case” drove him to pursue a path in life that far surpassed that of the young protagonist in “The Rocking Horse Winner.” He harbored contemptuous feelings towards his family and detested his home environment, describing it as unsightly and depicting his father unfavorably. Paul saw himself as superior to them and viewed his circumstances as utterly unequal. As the narrative unfolded, Paul began concocting falsehoods about his life beyond school. While employed at Carnegie Hall, he not only inflated his self-image but also spun tales of having connections with influential individuals to establish dominance over his instructor. Unfortunately, these actions ultimately resulted in him losing his job and being expelled from Carnegie Hall.
One of the most unethical actions committed by him was stealing money from the firm of Denny & Carson. During his breakdown, he managed to take the money and flee to New York, where he aimed to lead a luxurious life. Despite being amidst turmoil, he felt strangely “at peace with himself” (240), as he became consumed by self-destruction and his newfound lifestyle. Paul engaged in wrongful behavior multiple times in order to obtain money and satisfy his longing for wealth. Both narratives serve as a warning against pursuing material possessions such as money and harboring an insatiable desire to have it all.
By citing various examples, it becomes evident that money can be a perilous entity. In “The Rocking Horse Winner,” money leads to a young boy’s addiction to gambling and his inclination to lie. Similarly, in “Paul’s Case,” money brings forth thievery, deceit, and an obsession with vanity. In both cases, the primary motivation is the pursuit of wealth, as both boys perceive it as a necessity. Consequently, both boys engage in self-destructive actions in their quest for acceptance. Ultimately, their overall character is compromised because they prioritize money above all else.
