The Monkey's Paw Foreshadowing

The Monkey’s Paw: Be Careful What You Wish For

The short story, “The Monkey’s Paw”, was written by W.W. Jacobs in 1902. The genre could be classified as a folk tale, horror, or gothic fiction. It is about three bad wishes that have really bad consequences to follow. “The Monkey’s Paw” is envisioned to show people that fate rules their lives and that it is unwise to interfere with it. In this story W.W. Jacobs writes with a setting, tone, writing style, symbolism, and imagery that helps prove the point that you should be careful what you wish for because it just might come true.

To begin, the writer sets the story inside and around the White family home, called Laburnam Villa. The story is most likely set at the same time it was written, which

was 1902. Each section of the story is based on the three wishes that were made. The first section of the story covers a single night in the White's lives, and the second section covers the following day. The third section happens at night, ten days after Herbert dies. As the story opens, the scene inside the Villa is contrasted with the scene outside. Outside, it's your classic dark and stormy night, but inside things are warm and cheerful, with chess, knitting, and a roaring fire. As the story progresses, the house becomes gradually darker and frightening. This section is complete with creaking stairs, strange shadows from candles, and things that go bump in the night. After Herbert dies, we are told that the house becomes "steeped in shadow and silence" (Shmoop Editorial)
Also, Herbert is employed at a factory that is owned by a company named Maw and Meggins. While reading the story, we never learn what Herbert’s job is, never visit this place, nor do we learn what exactly is done here. It is not once said what causes Herbert’s death. It could have been carelessness on his part, unsafe conditions, or something much worse. This setting shines a light on another serious problem during this time period as well, which is working conditions in the early 1900’s.
To follow, Jacobs uses a unique tone that is filled with dark subject matter, which he seems to take very seriously. As mentioned earlier, he used his tone to debrief on other issues that were a problem of his time, as in working conditions in the 1900’s, the effects of British imperialism, the isolation and fascist separation caused by the Industrial Revolution, and heartache of losing a loved one. He makes it clear, as he voices it in the story, that he is a serious guy who cares deeply about the world he lives in.
Next, the writing style used in “The Monkey’s Paw” is full of foreshadowing.

This is a tool Jacobs used to give his readers an idea of what to expect later on in the story. This type of style helps gain suspense as well. Herbert foreshadowed his own death a few times. "Well, I don't see the money," said his son, as he picked it up and placed it on the table, "and I bet I never shall.” (Jacobs, William)." By W.W. Jacobs) Before his parents go to bed, Herbert seems to foreshadow his own disfigurement and return from the dead: "I expect you'll find the cash tied up in a big bag in the middle of your bed," said Herbert, as he bade them good-night, "and something horrible squatting up on top of the wardrobe watching you as you pocket your ill-gotten gains." He sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in it. The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement. It got so vivid that, with a little uneasy laugh, he felt on the table for a glass containing a little water to throw over it. His hand grasped the monkey's paw, and with a little shiver he wiped his hand on his coat and went up to bed.” (Jacobs, William) If Mr. White hadn't used his third wish (presumably) to send Herbert back to the grave, this might have been exactly the scenario that played out. Mangled from his accident and rotting from his time in the graveyard, Herbert would have been that "something horrible" if Mrs. White had managed to let him into the house.

(Shmoop Editorial)
Moreover, we don't need a monkey's paw to make wishes. We are free to make wishes at any time. And some of them come true. Unfortunately, it often turns out that the wishes that do come true result in disappointment--or worse. This fact of life seems to be the theme behind the theme of "The Monkey's Paw." We have all had the experience of getting something we wanted and then finding out that we made a mistake. An example of a really serious mistake is marrying the wrong person. A less serious mistake is taking the wrong job. Benjamin Franklin wrote the following truth: “All human situations have their inconveniences. We feel those of the present but neither see nor feel those of the future; and hence we often make troublesome changes without amendment, and frequently for the worse.” Wishing is the same as wanting. We all want something much of the time. ("The Monkey's Paw (Theme)." Enotes)
In addition, symbolism and imagery is a strong writing characteristic that is used in “The Monkeys Paw”. Slang and dialogue is used to make the characters feel true and sincere. Jacob creates settings which help develop the moods of the story. (St. Rosemary Educational) Mr. White and his son Herbert love to play chess in this story. Therefore, chess is symbol of life. The paw seems to be a dominant symbol. It provides a stimulating way to discover the guilt of losing a loved one. If the paw had never shown up or been discovered, the Whites would have found something else to blame for Herbert’s death besides themselves. It also causes anxiety to build up over a foreign object that came from India that was magical, mysterious, and scary. As the writer continues in the story, one gets the idea that the monkey that lost his paw is evil and full of vengeance due to its poor treatment. Which, it can be assumed that this is powering the paws evil actions, bringing bad luck to anyone who may come in contact with it.
In like manner, Jacobs drew from a number of widely known literary sources in writing “The Monkey’s Paw” to make the story both familiar and unsettling. His most recognizable influence was the tale of Aladdin and the magic lamp, one of the more famous tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights, or simply Arabian Nights, as Mrs. White calls it. There are numerous variations to the Aladdin story—including Walt Disney’s popular cartoon of the 1990s—but nearly all of them suggest that successful wishing is impossible because magic never works the way people want it to work. Jacobs also uses the same structural pattern in “The Monkey’s Paw” featured in most other “three wishes” stories: the first wish leads to unexpected and dissatisfying results, the hastily made second wish fails to reverse the first wish and only worsens the situation, and the third wish manages to undo the disastrous second wish. ("The Monkeys Paw Analysis.")

Jacobs’s less obvious sources of inspiration, however, include the Bible and stories of Faust, the German scholar who sells his soul in exchange for the devil’s service.

Mr. White recoils in horror after wishing on the monkey’s paw for the first time, insisting that the paw moved like a snake in his hand. This snake alludes to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, in which Eve discovers that the seemingly delicious fruit brings only misery. Similarly, the Whites—whose surname suggests unsullied innocence—discover that the powerful monkey’s paw grants wishes with a heavy price. And just as in the Faust stories, the fulfillment of Mr. and Mrs. White’s wishes brings only pain and suffering to others and therefore fail to satisfy them. ("The Monkeys Paw

Analysis.")
In the final analysis, you can see that in this story W.W. Jacobs writes with a setting, tone, writing style, symbolism, and imagery that helps prove the point that you should be careful what you wish for because it just might come true. The characters’ lives are governed by an indifferent fate that punishes regardless of a lack of moral failings because of the paw. The story examines the old adage “Be careful what you wish for”, highlighting people's tendency to focus on what they don't have to the detriment of what they do possess. People fail to take responsibility for their own selfish actions and blame the foreign objects. In this case, the White’s family blame the monkeys paw for the death of their son. This story creates a true aspect on life using fictional and magical objects and beliefs.