“The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs is a short story about the White family. One night they’re given an ornament that resembled a monkey’s paw. Sargeant-Major Morris, the man who gifts the Whites the monkey’s paw, explains the magic of the paw in detail.
“… a very holy man. He wanted to show fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it.”(W.W. Jacobs 2)
As the story concludes it ends up with the wishes tearing their family apart. The decisions that the family makes throughout the story bring consequences for all the characters throughout the story. Many consequences come through this decision that deal with grim subject
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matters. Throughout “The Monkey’s Paw” the White family is faced with many tough decisions that lead to fatal consequences. When the story begins the whole White family makes a decision that changes the whole outcome of the story. This decision came about in the beginning of “The Monkey’s Paw” whenever the family decides to take the monkey’s paw. “He took the paw, and dangling it between his forefinger and thumb, suddenly threw it upon the fire. White, with a slight cry, stooped down and snatched it off. “Better let it burn,” said the soldier solemnly. “If you don’t want it Morris,” said the other, “give it to me.” ”I won’t” said the friend doggedly. “I threw it in the fire. If you keep it, don’t blame me for what happens. Pitch it on a fire like a sensible man” (W.W. Jacobs 2-3) Even after Sargeant-Major Morris warned them about the paw the family’s greed overwhelmed them, and the consequences became fatal. Once the White family took the paw their consequences began: they wished the first wish, they got a bill, their son died, they received 200 pounds, they wished the second wish, they heard a knock at the door, they used their final wish. The White family made their decision based on greed and selfishness. Once they heard about the powers of the paw an opportunity arose where they could get whatever they wanted, so greed took over and influenced their decision. Based on the ending of the story the true meaning of the paw is shown. “But her husband was on his hands and knees groping wildly on the floor in search of the paw.
If only he could find it before the thing inside got in. ... He heard the creaking of the bolt as it came slowly back, and at the same moment he found the monkey’s paw, and frantically his breathed third and final wish.”(W.W. Jacobs 7)
Throughout the story the monkey’s paw brings pain and grief to the White family. So I disagree with the decision that the White family made by taking the paw. The consequences bring to much pain for the paw to be worthwhile. The decision to take the monkeys paw ultimately does grant you three wishes which seems great, but the consequences that it comes with can be painful or even fatal. So, no the decision to take the paw was not considered properly and was a mistake it ends with the family grieving for all that they lost.
Mr. White decision was in fact a mistake in the long run the story ends on a worse note than it begins, but it’s hard to fight greed and the feeling you have when greed wants to control. If I was in Mr. Whites place I probably would end up taking the paw. Having the same knowledge as Mr. White I have no recollection of the misfortune the paw is bound to bring. Learning of something as magical as a paw that grants wishes would be amazing I could have anything I desire, but not knowing of the curse it brings would bring pain and anger upon my heart. Mr. White doesn’t know the curse the paw brings all he knows is Sargeant-Major Morris’s experience wasn’t
pleasant. “If you could have another three wishes,” said the old man, eyeing him keenly, “would you have them?” “I don’t know,” said the other, “I don’t know.”… suddenly threw it upon the fire. White with a slight cry, stooped down and snatched it off.”(W.W. Jacobs 2) Based on this passage there is a hint stating the curse of the paw, but it also shows how Mr. White greed takes over, and his knowledge of the magic bound to paw is limited. So with only this context in my mind greed would most likely take over, and ask for the paw. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs contains one of the biggest decisions through literature. The consequences end up ruining the life of a family who made the wrong decision by taking the paw. Although, not taking something that seems to only contain good things is a hard task to take on. Most of time if there is something great people can do greed takes over, and greed is hard to fight. Ultimately, the decisions made in “The Monkey’s Paw” were poor unthoughtful decisions that brought around terrible consequences.
In conclusion, the story describes that life changes, and nothing stays the same throughout it. It is in the hands of the people to decide that how they want their life to be. They can make it as beautiful as they want to and they can also make it worse than it has ever been
Additionally, Sergeant Major Morris knew the consequences of wishing upon the monkey's paw, saying on page 377, "I don't know what the first two [wishes] were, but the third was for death." This implied that the previous owner of the paw had suffered such severe consequences that he wished away his own life. Although Sergeant Major Morris refrained from giving the
Another reason why The Monkey's Paw explains foreshadowing with suspense or tension because in the article the author writes again "A rat," said the old man, in shaking tones—"a rat. It passed me on the stairs."
“I warn you of the consequences” - “The Monkey's Paw” (page 89) this essay will be comparing and contrasting Two stories “The Monkey's paw” by w.w. Jacobs and “The Third wish” by Joan Aiken. In “The Monkey's paw” and “The Third Wish” the mood and setting are almost completely different, If it wasn't for the theme this book wouldn't be so similar .
One may stutter over the conception that a monkey’s paw holds the power to determine fate, rather than siding with freewill. In the short story, “The Monkey’s Paw,” an average family, located in the middle class discovers a monkey’s paw and are told that they had three wishes upon that magical, yet deceiving item. However, their decisions cost them several, unintended consequences, due to greed within the human mind. The author, W.W. Jacobs uses symbolism, foreshadowing, and irony to convey the peril of wish fulfillment and the dangers of interfering with fate.
Three wishes, an old Indian curse, and a mummified paw, that was cut from a monkey. This is going to be exciting! “The Monkey’s Paw” is a short story written by W.W. Jacobs in the early 1900’s just after the turn of the centenary. Even though the text is short, it grabs the reader’s attention and keeps them on the edge of their seats until the very end. As exhilarating as this thriller is to read, unfortunately like many literary works written during that time, “The Monkey’s Paw,” is demeaning towards women and goes against feminist literary criticism’s principles and ideologies.
The author uses many elements to show foreshadowing and conflict to make the story have a point and interesting. If foreshadowing and conflict was not in “The Monkey’s Paw”, then the story would be dull and not interesting to read. After reading the story just remember never take anything for granted, and be happy with what you
As the audience already knows that there are many tales that are told in the story. These stories are the base for what has to come later in the sections. These stories have lessons and hidden meanings that will show through the mothers and daughters. For example, the first part of the book is “Feathers from a Thousand Li Away” is intended to teach the reader about hope, which is symbolized by the swan. One of the mothers in the story has a feather from the swan and in hopes, one day give it to her daughter and tell her the struggles that the family had to go through to have a better life. This wish is a very difficult one to come true because of a
First of all, “The Monkey`s Paw” is a cause-and-effect story that talks about a family and a monkey`s paw that would grant them 3 wishes. The family of 3; Mr. White (father), Mrs. White (mother), and Herbert (son) lived in a small parlor of Laburnum, bumped into a man called Sergeant-Major Morris as he stumbled
Just like a genie, right? Wrong. Thesewishes come with an outstanding price. The story proves that interfering with fate can have a disastrous outcome. “The Monkey’s Paw” uses literary devices to create a story filled with both suspense and horror..
The monkey’s paw is a gothic tale. The tale is about a family of three named the Whites. When the Whites are given a magical monkey’s paw by an old family friend – Sergeant Major Morris - they also inherit three wishes. Herbert, the descendant of the family takes the paw for granted and had no certainty in the paw. That day they make their first wish for two hundred pounds, nothing happens. That night, after the old couple had departed to bed, Herbert sees a simian-like face in the fire. The following day, Herbert, goes to Maw and Meggins, where he works. In the meantime a worker from the Maw and Meggins cotton mill comes to visit Herbert’s parents and delivers devastating news. He claims that Herbert had been crushed by machinery whilst working which led to his death, but they were entitled to compensation of two hundred pounds. The couple are absorbed by grief and after the funeral Mrs White suggests that they use the monkey’s paw to wish Herbert back to life. Mr White is very hesitant to do this, but after a lot of persuasion and fuss from his wife he agrees to the idea. After making the wish the couple retire to bed. When the candles burn out, and Mr White goes to retrieve more there are loud knocks at the door. Mrs White runs to the door, and after a few struggling minutes, manages to get the door open. A loud...
In short, there are multiple similarities and differences in the characters, plot, and resolution in the short story and motion picture “The Monkey’s Paw” that clearly influence the audience. For instance, the difference in characters affects the mood. Similarities in the plot influence the tone, and the corresponding resolutions impact the theme. The director of the motion picture “The Monkey’s Paw” chose to stick to some aspects of the text as well as change some for numerous reasons, some of which include keeping the audience's attention, sustaining the author's tone in the text, and ensuring that the readers and viewers receive the same message.
The cause in the Monkeys paw is that the Whites son dies. The White’s son shockingly dies in a machine, “he was caught in the machinery,” said the worker. The White’s feel responsible because of the wish they made for money. The wait to see if their son was still alive after wishing on the monkeys paw brought great distress, so much so that Mrs. White fainted. The Monkeys Paw creates suspense, by showing us all the emotions from the characters while they wait to see if their son will return with the last wish. In the Monkeys Paw if they did not make a wish for money, then their son would still be alive. If these things wouldn’t have happened the White’s
.... "An overview of “The Monkey's Paw”." Short Stories for Students. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Literature Resource Center. Web. 15 Apr. 2011.
I will just take it home and see what this fake thing can do.” The man went back to his house and sat down on the chair in the dining room staring at the monkey’s paw. He told his wife and daughter about how the old fakir gave him the monkey’s paw and how it granted wishes. The man said to the monkey’s paw “I wish for a million dollars.”