Paul

Character Analysis

Paul is introduced as a small boy with some big emotions. He's short enough to receive a rocking horse for a Christmas present, but the intensity of his emotions is way too big for him to handle. When his feelings are hurt, he is very hurt. When he is anxious, he is very anxious. When he is focused on a goal, such as "knowing" the winning horse, he is very, very focused. Maybe we can learn something from him. Or maybe not…

With so much emotion bubbling inside him, you have to wonder how long Paul's young mind can take it all. Not very long, as it turns out.

Why is Paul so intense? In contrast to the rest of the characters, from his mother down to humble old Bassett, Paul is the only one in the story who seems to feel anything at all. It's as if he has to generate all this emotion to make up for the fact that there is so little genuine feeling in his life.

This need to compensate is a critical feature of his relationship with his mother. Learning that his mother isn't satisfied with his father since he has none of this mysterious thing called "luck," Paul is eager to step in and fill his father's shoes.

But Paul is just a boy, and boys aren't emotionally equipped to replace a father in a mother's affections nor are they prepared to take on the responsibilities of supporting a household. Tragically, Paul's young mind can't contain his outsized emotions, leading to his untimely death.