The Presence and Justification of Autoeroticism in The...

D.H. Lawrence’s writings often mirror elements of his own life, though they contain decidedly fictitious components. The characters in Lawrence’s The Rocking- Horse Winner closely resemble his own family. Like Paul, Lawrence was seeking a way out of the misfortune of pre-war London living. Unlike Lawrence, Paul is already well-to-do. Paul’s search consists of a yearning for affection and acceptance. In The Rocking-Horse Winner a young boy finds a certain calling within himself that serves to vastly improve the standing of his entire family. However, Paul’s supernatural ability to choose the winners of horse races is but a cursory assessment of the story’s secrets. Digging deeper, the reader becomes aware of a darker meaning to Paul’s†¦show more content†¦Evidently, she was unprepared for children when she became pregnant but has had to learn to adjust. Paul’s mother falls into a predominate group of depressed females accordin g to certain studies which state that â€Å"Rates of depression in women are highest in young adulthood, during childbearing years, and among women with children† (Kessler et al., 1994, 2003). Furthermore, research addresses the correlation between depression and hostility in and toward children of depressed mothers. Paul’s mother understands and recognizes the disconnect that her cold demeanor has created between she and her children. â€Å"They looked at her coldly, as if they were finding fault with her. And hurriedly she felt she must cover up some fault in herself† (Lawrence, 559). â€Å"Research also indicates that maternal depression is associated with more critical interactions between mothers and children, characterized by heightened levels of intrusiveness, negativity, and hostility† (Brenitz Friedman, 1988; Cohn, Cambell, Matias, Hopkins, 1990; Harnish, Dodge, Valente, Conduct Problems Prevention Group, 1995; Malatesta-Magai, 1991). Addition ally, in feeling alienated from his mother, Paul develops an Oedipus complex. He desires a closer relationship with her though she is cold and aloof where all her children are concerned. This becomes apparent in several