Various Ways that W.W. Jacobs Creates Tension in Monkey's Paw
In this essay I am going to write about the various ways the author
W.W Jacobs creates tension in the short story Monkey's Paw. For
example I am going to write about how he has used the setting of the
story, the manner of speech of the characters etc. to help him create
tension.
Firstly, the setting of the story takes place in a very isolated and
lonely place, far away from civilization in a deserted area. This
makes it a bit scary and starts to introduce tension for the reader in
the story.
"That's the worst for living so far out"
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Then we are told about the name of the villa i.e.- "Laburnum". This is
the name of a poisonous plant. This is quite scary as the home of the
characters is of a deadly plant. This could be informing the reader
that something bad could happen later on within the story and so this
makes the reader wonder more. This creates tension within the reader,
as they are apprehensive as to what will happen next.
"but in the small parlour of Laburnam villa"
Secondly Jacobs uses a sense of mystery in the story to help him
create tension for the reader. The best example is in the beginning of
the play. When suddenly a person comes to visit them. The reader feels
that there must be a reason behind his visit to such an isolated
place. This also makes the reader more curious and also created
tension.
"heavy footsteps came towards the door"
This is where the reader is introduced to the monkeys paw - Cleverly
Jacobs doesn't let the reader know much about the visitor initially.
This makes them more curious to know about him and what makes it even
more interesting is that all they know about the paw is that it is
mystical and it contains a spell on it.
"It had a spell put on it by an old fakir"
Helen Garner is an Australian public intellectual and a journalist who is well known for novel, short story and screen writing. Published in 1977, Monkey Grip is her first novel which represents a classic of modern Australian literature. Monkey Grip was the first contemporary novel and constituted the voice of the generation.
Another technique in his writing that I have noticed is personification, sometimes in the form of quotes. All of these techniques are used in the following excerpts from an article entitled, "Food For Thought."
talks to his son. ‘Hark at the wind’, tells us that Mr White is very
“One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”(McGill). The short story The Monkey’s Paw by William Wymark Jacobs has many instances of characters not giving their full attention when somebody was attempting to speak to them. When the sergeant came to the home of the White’s and showed them the monkey’s paw, the White’s did not listen to the sergeants warning of the monkey’s paw of it bringing great consequences whenever they made a wish. Mrs. White did not listen to Mr. White when he tried to explain why they should not wish for their son to be alive. Mrs. White rushed down the stairs ignoring Mr. White’s warnings of opening the door to let their son into the home. Listening more to people other than someone’s self is an ideal that has been lost in society.
The “Monkey’s Paw” reveals an intriguing story of destiny and death. The Theme challenges the classical ideas of destiny and fate.
The personal and analytical writing style allows his essay to be both convincing and relatable. Under the personal scholarly genre, Daniel
The author of my book explains the setting by going into detail. The first example of the author creating
put on it by an old fakir. The story continues and then Mr.White and the
his life where it has influences of his writing and how it did impact many people.
This very poisonous plant acquired its name from Theophrastus back in the third century B.C. It has been termed "the Mandragora of Theophrastus." It's English name, Dwaule, is derived from a Dutch word dwaul, meaning to wander or to be delirious.(1) It is a perennial herb, and one of the more important species of the nightshade family. Because it is so poisonous it was given the name Atropos, which is the Greek word for inflexible. Another meaning is that it refers to "one of three Fates who cut the thread of life."(2)
...uld be fatal. Therefore, the identification and understanding of poisonous plants and there habitats is an important part of safely using medicinal wild-crafted herbs from the Emmet county vicinity of Northern Michigan.
telling stories about his life without really setting up a structure for the audience to follow.
used as this can give a good insight into the author and on this note,
The Hadley’s, a family that has everything, a house that cost about $30,000 in a time where the average house cost $8,200, which rocks them to sleep and ties their shoes. The White’s, a family that must work for everything and wish for certain possessions, such as money. These families showcased in two different short stories seem like polar opposites, and while they are very different, they have more in common than what is portrayed on the surface. The “Monkey’s Paw” deals with a family that is able to make it by, however their monetary situation could be improved, and they find themselves coming across a talisman that caused them nothing but issues. On the other hand, “The Veldt” deals with a family who is spoiled and has access to everything
The stories of Joyce Carol Oates "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" and William W. Jacobs "The Monkey's Paw" have several different degrees of symbols and themes that warn the characters of emitted danger or bad outcomes in their stories that can be mirrored of each other. In, these stories the characters do not follow the warnings from these symbols and themes from the clues that are presented to them. From these terrible choices that are decided, they find themselves in situations that could have been avoided, but they did not proceed with. My analysis of these symbols and themes will demonstrate what they are and show the obvious of what to look for. So, let us begin on this analysis and see how the symbols and themes could have