Children are always taught to render love and respect to their parents. As children, there also appears a steady obligation to take care of our parents especially when they are already old. Personally, my mission in life at this point of my life is to be successful in my career and seek for an employment that would render me greater income so that I would be able to provide my mother’s needs all the time. This paper presents the story titled The Rocking Horse Winner and how the story connects to my own life situations.
Many people are like Paul, helpful and eager to please others. I am in some way like Paul because I take care of my mother. My life has some connections with the main character in the story The Rocking Horse Winner. This story tells about a young boy named Paul. Paul’s mother lives all her life in lavishness and extravagance. Hence, when the family started to run out of wealth, Paul’s mother developed resentment to her three children (Lawrence 1223). She considered them as added burdens to her. In this part of the story, I felt grateful for not having such kind of mother who would despise having her children around. My mother is the most gracious and caring woman. She never failed to make me feel important every day. On the other hand, Paul’s mom wished for nothing but money (Lawrence 1224). Thus, the entire house was filled with an echoing sound of money and more money. Unlike Paul, I lived a simple life and my mother is a simple woman who desired nothing more than being able to provide her children’s needs.
Even at a young age, Paul thought about doing something to give his mother money (Lawrence 1225). He went to his room and discovered that each time he rides the rocking horse; he instantly knew the horse that is going to win in the race. One time, Paul told his uncle, Bassett, that he wants to go to a horse race (Lawrence 1226). Paul revealed to his uncle the mystery behind the rocking horse. When they won the race, Paul asked favor from his uncle to deposit $5000 to his mother’s bank account (Lawrence 1227). But Bassett decided to deposit only a thousand dollar each year for five years. When Paul’s mother found out about the winning, she told Pail to deposit all the money as she was in debt. My mother was not even close to the kind of woman Paul’s mother was. Paul’s mother was greedy and always unsatisfied. She does not care about her son’s condition and efforts to make her happy. She only cared about having money to support her elegant lifestyle. My mother is a simple woman. She cares for me just as I care for her
Paul’s mother was never happy and satisfied. She wanted more money. This triggered Paul to put pressure upon him in producing more money. Paul started to grow tired and got sick. On the next race, Paul was determined to win the race. He went to his rocking horse and finally made a decision to bet on one of the horses. Paul won $80,000 and died (Lawrence 1236). Unlike Paul’s mother who did not care about her children’s whereabouts, my mother serves as my angel and my guide. During my childhood, I clearly remember how mother would usually cuddle me up and put me to sleep. I can also remember how she would prepare my clothes and my foods. My mother did her best to show her unconditional love for me. Now that I am all grown up, I wish to repay my mother for all the goodness she showered me with. I want to work hard and earn a lot so I can provide my mother’s needs and give her a more comfortable and happy life. I need not push myself just as how Paul did to himself. I am simply optimistic at the thought that one day, I would be able to fulfill my plans for my mother because she deserves to be happy and enjoy life.
Connecting the story to my life, somehow, the only thing similar with me and the character of Paul is our eagerness to make our mothers happy. But unlike Paul, I have a loving and supportive mother who is always ready to lend me a hand whenever I need it and to share with me her words of wisdom to encourage me to do my best.
Source:
Lawrence, D. H. The Rocking-Horse Winner. 1st ed. Logan, IA: Perfection Learning Corp., 1982. Print.
