Hester is one of the main characters in D.H. Lawrences The Rocking-Horse Winner. The story describes a young boy, Paul, who tries to win his mothers love by seeking the luck (Kaplan 1971), which she believes she does not possess. Lawrence condemns the modern notion that happiness and luck come from the outside, rather than from within; that happiness must take the form of money and goods rather than the erotic, parental, and filial love (Kaplan 1972). The story is an ironic and materialistic tragedy (2). Many characteristics of Hester are revealed as she begins to realize that her luck, which she believes she does not have, starts to come back all because of her sons special talent he has with a rocking horse. To Hester, the special things that her son gives her are just not enough. Her greed, selfishness, and dominance over others emphasize her overpowering character. Throughout the story, the mothers greed becomes more and more overpowering. The son, Paul, is very determined to find luck for his mother, but the mothers greediness keeps nagging on Paul. Hester, the mother, tells her son that she is not lucky, and it is better to have luck than money because luck brings money (Kaplan 1971). To Hester, money is the most important thing in the world for her. Even though Hester knows she does not need the money, there is something in the house that entices her to think there must be more money, there must be more money (852). This incantation reveals the mothers greed that emphasizes her character. This house becomes haunted (852) by the mothers unspoken thoughts. Her thoughts are mostly about whether she really loved her son unconditionally. The mothers will and her powerful materialistic desire permeate the atmosphere of the house (852) suggesting that the mother influences the houses odd behavior. Paul and Uncle Oscars conversation about the mother suggest that if she did know Paul was lucky, she would take complete ad...
