In this short story, "The Rocking-Horse Winner," the main character, Paul, thinks that life is all about being lucky. As every young boy does, Paul also thinks life is much about wealth or money. Everyone he around also feels the same way as if they are not happy about what they already have.
             Character plays a vital role in the theme of youth and maturity in this story. Paul is just like every young boy at his age, trying to grow up too fast. He shows this by worrying about the financial state of his family. His family puts off a feeling to Paul, almost as if they are not happy with what they already have. His mother tells him that luck is what causes a person to have a lot of money; if you have a chance, you will always be wealthy. After hearing his mother tell him this he tries his best to find his luck.
             Paul has a lucky charm in some sense, it is an old rocking horse that he has had since he was a small boy. He sits on this and rocks to get the feeling of the outcome of the race. What his mother doesn't find out, until later, is that he has been gambling with his uncle. Most boys would find a job to help out with financial problems, but not Paul. Paul constantly goes to races to earn money, taking chances. This shows Paul's immaturity due to the fact that he could lose everything he has won. There are very few people that can live just at risk. Paul's luck could run out. If Paul was mature he would not base his means of income on gambling. He would get a real job that doesn't have such a big risk.
             Another way that Paul's immaturity plays a role in how he would ride his rocking horse before every race. He would ride on it for hours and hours just waiting for some voice, or as he called it "when he gets there" (Lawrence 226). The feeling would give him the outcome of the race, and whatever his feeling told him that is what he, his uncle, and Bassett bet on that race. How he based his decision on a rocking horse is extremel...