Fictional Reformation

Feb. 2006

Reading fiction has the ability to open a person’s eyes to a new understanding of issues, objects, traditions, people and relationships within both humanity and society. It has the ability to cause a person to review their attitudes toward a topic and cause a change in that attitude, should the need arise. Just as Susan Gallagher and Roger Lundin state (p. 54 LTEF) so to does D. H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking Horse Winner” demonstrate how reading fiction can bring about the reformation of attitudes within those who read it.

Upon first reading this short fiction, the reader is left in an almost slightly confused state. The theme can clearly be seen, yet not pinpointed. It is so large, so broad that a moment or two is required to fully comprehend what was read and the meaning trying to be portrayed, and even then, the reader is left almost with a slight uncertainty. Just as Paul’s mother hurried to cover up a fault that “what it was she must cover up she never knew” (p. 113 EoL), so to does the reader have a basic understanding of the story, though does not fully understand it’s meaning without further thought. The theme of the dangers of gambling, as well as the constant, never-ending quest for material possessions and money are quire evident to the reader, though once realized in full, it causes new questions to arise. The reader then begins to think of the greed of the family, never satisfied with what they have. A distinct relation can be seen between the family and society. The reader can see how, just as the house, society becomes haunted by the unspoken phrase “There must be more money!” (p. 114 EoL). The level of obsession Paul attains in his constant quest for money mirrors that of people in society, how they are willing to do anything to themselves in order to get more money. “He became wild-eyed and strange, as if something were going to explode in him.” (p. 121 EoL)
Upon this realization, the reader is then led to think of the issues within their own society which arises from the obsession of greed. They begin to see these issues with a newer understanding, a newer insight then before. The reader begins to view their society and the people around them in a morally different way, and is forced to ask why people are this way and what can be done to change it.

Fiction calls a person to investigate the issues that surround them in their own societies, which causes a desire to see these issues fixed. In the case of “The Rocking Horse Winner”, the story calls us to investigate why the world so consumed with the need for money and material possessions. The main reason for the extensive greed in this family can be seen in the first paragraph of the story, “at the center of her heart was a hard little place that could not feel love, no, not for anybody.” (p.113 EoL) The family is lacking in love, and therefore looks for that affection and warmth in that which comes from greed. Seeing what arises from that situation, the reader begins to ask themselves what they are able to do about such issues as that in the world and speaks with others, creating an awareness about them. The story changes the outlook of those who read it, from which the reader is given both a face and a personal touch, bringing forth a new, personal understanding. Just as they do not wish to see the protagonists fall to such a state, neither do they wish to see those around them fall to such an extreme. Fiction allows for not only identifying the issue itself, but also a root cause of the issue in ways which would never occur to the reader previously.
“Self-awareness may come to us in a flash of recognition, as we see a parallel between ourselves and a character, emotion, or idea. Such sudden insight may illuminate what we have unconsciously hidden from ourselves.” (p. 50 LTEF)
Personal understanding must be achieved before any reformation can be made, an understanding which is provided in fiction.

D. H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking Horse Winner” demonstrates how fiction can be used to gain “Knowledge and understand, [which_witch] can result in analysis and action as we reform the distortions in our own attitudes and in social, economic, political, and religious systems.” (p. 54 LTEF) In hearing testimonies and reading stories, one is able to come to a new understanding of issues in society. Through the experiences of others, they are able to come to a personal understanding and a reformation of attitudes towards the issues presented.

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