Theme Of Foreshadowing And Symbolism In The Monkey's Paw

The question, “What makes literature good?”, is one that has been fiercely debated for centuries. A concrete answer is tough to reach when history has produced numerous compelling literary works that are all unique in their own way. One piece of literature that is often lauded as one of the best is the “The Monkey’s Paw”, by W.W Jacobs. This poignant novella tells the tale of a family of three; a mother, father and a son, who come across a mystical paw that grants the user three wishes. They soon find out, however, that the wishes that the paw grants cause more trouble than good. Through the deft use of foreshadowing, symbolism, and characterization, W.W Jacobs skillfully conveys the theme that fate is not to be tampered with, and that doing

One instant where it is effectively used comes in the beginning of the story. Mr. White and Herbert are playing a game of chess where Mr. White is making risky moves while Herbert is making careful and strategic advancements. This is indicated by the following excerpt from the story, “Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.” (Jacobs). The risk-oriented game of chess is symbolic of the potential perils that may come from wishing upon the paw. Another symbol in this story is very important one, and that is the actual paw itself. It is representative of fate and the consequences that would ensue from interfering with our destiny, or in this case, wishing upon the paw. This idea is buttressed by Sergeant Major Morris’s heedful directions for using the the paw, “Hold it up in your right hand and wish aloud, but I warn you of the consequences" (Jacobs). Symbolism makes itself apparent one last time during the text, and that is at the climax of the story when the family is awarding 200 pounds to compensate for his son’s death, “Mr. White dropped his wife's hand, and rising to his feet, gazed with a look of horror at his visitor. His dry lips shaped the words, "How much?" "Two hundred pounds,"” (Jacobs). The money symbolizes the dangers of greed and avariciousness, and furthermore supports the theme that messing with fate can result in devastating consequences. Symbolism, when used effectively, can allow an author to subtly convey a message or theme to the reader, and “The Monkey’s Paw” is a perfect example of a literary work that does