Paul As A Dynamic Character In 'The Rocking-Horse Winter'

The term character in the context of a short story can be defined as the people who are involved in the events of the story. According to our textbook, most authors develop fictional characters through descriptions of what those characters do and think. Fictional characters are also developed through the dialogue of what they say and hear.

A static character is one that doesn’t change or develop by the end of the story and a dynamic character is one that develops throughout the story or at least by the conclusion. A flat character’s responses to situations are not introduced to the reader, but round characters responses are. In a short story, the main character is called the protagonist. If the plot involves any conflict, the second character

Paul tries to get the love and attention of his mother and yet she is distant and dissatisfied with him. This makes her the antagonist. Regardless of Paul’s efforts, his mother always seemed to be displeased. I would describe Paul as a round character because his responses were very apparent throughout the story. The mother was the flat character, as she seemed to be aloof. Paul is the dynamic character as we see his beliefs about luck develop. One example of the development is when Paul says “Of course”… “I started it for Mother. She said she had no luck because Father is unlucky, so I thought if I was lucky, it might stop whispering” (Márquez 381). The mother was the static character, as she seemed to be distant and pessimistic throughout the story. One example of this is when Paul asks, “Is luck money, Mother?” (Márquez 376) and she replied by saying “No Paul. Not quite. It’s what causes you to have money” (Márquez 377). “Well- I suppose,” she said slowly and bitterly, “it’s because your father has no luck” (Márquez 377). This was another example of the mother’s demeanor. It seems as though Paul is sympathetic or at least understanding of the money situation and is eager to help out. The mother doesn’t seem to be sympathetic throughout the story, not even when Paul