Character Clues

Character Analysis

Social Status

Ever heard the phrase 'Keeping up with the Joneses'? For the Cresswell family, 'keeping up' is a way of life.

For Hester and the other adults in the story, social status is a straight-up obsession. We think the family is somewhere in the upper middle class, but Hester and her husband don't have enough money to maintain their position. Hester spends most of the story trying to make money in order to feed her obsession with maintaining her image. In contrast, Uncle Oscar is envied for his wealth and all the trappings of wealth, including his very own car.

Physical Appearance (Eyes)

We don't hear much about the characters' physical appearances in "The Rocking-Horse Winner," but Lawrence does spend a lot of time on their eyes, because, you know, eyes are the windows to the soul and all. Eye contact is also valued  as a sign of respect and recognition (at least in Western societies).

In this story, the characters' eyes often say more than the characters can actually verbalize, since so much remains unspoken in the Cresswell family. Nobody talks about their financial anxieties, but the children can see the worry in their parents' eyes. Paul is also said to have a "strange glare" in his eyes, and his sisters "peer at him uneasily." When Paul nears death, his eyes turn to "blue stones" just as his mother's heart turns to stone.

Family Life

At its core, "The Rocking-Horse Winner" is a family drama, so the details of family life are particularly significant. We get lots of details about the family's domestic life, their home, and their mannerisms. We also get details about the family dynamics, as Lawrence explores the relationships between different family members and the tensions between them. These include Hester's disappointment in her husband, Paul's desperate effort to please Hester, and the family's joint envy of Uncle Oscar.