The Psychological Problem of the Protagonist in ‘Rocking-Horse Winner'　－In the Light of Freudian Theory of Sexuality－

The so-called analytical criticism is an excellent educational method to teach how to read literary works to students. The method, however, is not a cure-all to the problems which the beginners of literary studies might face while trying to present her or his creative interpretations. Literary works also cannot stand alone, they must be read and criticized in conjunction with other fictional or non-fictional works. D. H. Lawrence's 'Rocking-Horse Winner' (1928) offers a good example to show the limit of analytical criticism. Almost any reader here in Japan must be familiar with Freud's theory of Oedipus complex, so the theory can be construed as one part of the cultural machinery in this country. I examined Paul's mental problems in the short novel to show that Fread's theory is fully relevant to the interpretation of the story. Also I demonstrated that Sons and Lovers (1913) must be put into consideration to examine meanings in 'Rocking-Horse Winner.' In connection with The Rainbow (1915), I suggested that Lawrence's conclusion in each of these novels is to show the victory of the self's autonomy