The Monkey's Paw Essay

670 Words2 Pages

Fate: the development of events beyond a person’s control, regarded as determined by a supernatural force. Fate has ultimate control of the future, and it should not be interfered with. All characters in stories must learn this lesson. Throughout W.W. Jacobs’ short story, “The Monkey’s Paw”, foreshadowing and symbolism are used to exemplify the theme of interfering with fate leads to sorrow and misfortune. Foreshadowing is often used in “The Monkey’s Paw”, and is used to display the theme of the story. The Whites’ troubles all began with their first wish. Herbert, the Whites’ son, suggests that they wish for two hundred pounds to pay off their house. Mr. White does just that, and when the money does not appear, Herbert exclaims, “‘Well, I don’t see the …show more content…

Herbert says he will never see the money, and his exclamation is foreshadowing his death and how the Whites’ first wish will be granted. The company Herbert works for is providing compensation for his services, at the precise amount of two hundred pounds. Although their first wish was granted, there came an unintended consequence, which ultimately led to the sorrow of Mr. and Mrs. White. The foreshadowing used in Jacobs’ short story illustrates the theme of interfering with fate leads to sorrow and misfortune. There are particular objects in “The Monkey’s Paw” that are symbolic and are used to reveal the theme. The importance of the monkey’s paw is brought up throughout the entirety of the story. The paw represents how fate controls people’s lives, and how interfering with it leads to the sorrow of those who did. “‘The first man had his three wishes, yes,’ was the reply. ‘I don’t know what the first two were, but the third was for death. That’s how I got the paw’” (Jacobs 3). Although a wish may appear to be something simple, the consequences are difficult, and the sorrow and grief as

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