Character Analysis: The Monkey's Paw
Has not one wondered what would happen if one had three wishes that came with a frightening and tragic twist? William Wymark Jacobs, the author of the Monkey’s Paw, wrote stories about tales of distant strange lands, told by passing sailors. The story, the Monkey’s Paw, is about the strange lands and having a frightening and tragic twist. The main characters in the story, the Monkey's Paw, is the White family. The White family is given a monkey’s paw which will give them three wishes. They make a wish for 200 pounds to pay off their house. Their son dies because of the wish and they receive their 200 pounds as settlement thus making them responsible for their son’s death. The monkey’s paw destroyed the White family from inside out. In many
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The White Family decides not to heed Sergeant-Major Morris warning and decided to wish for 200 pounds. As a result of this, their son dies in a work accident and they receive a 200 pound compensation for his death. Mrs White realizes that she can use the monkey's paw “No, she cried triumphantly; we’ll have one more. Go down and get it quickly, and wish our boy alive again. The man set up in bed and flung the bed clothes from his quaking limbs. You are mad! He cried, aghast. (W.W.Jacob 114)” When the man announces to the Whites that their son is dead, it is clear to them that their wish has caused their son's death. This supports the idea that the searching for forbidden knowledge can cause dire consequences. In the Monkey’s paw, the search for the forbidding knowledge of the Monkey’s paw caused the Whites to be punished for it, the death of their son. This punishment from the search for forbidden knowledge is an element of horror.
Through an analysis, the Monkey’s Paw belongs in the horror genre based on a suspense plot, hesitation about believing in the supernatural and searching for forbidding knowledge which leads to punishment. A story in the horror genre just doesn’t have to be about scaring you. The Monkey’s Paw is a horror story where the outcome is frightening and
The White Family decides not to heed Sergeant-Major Morris warning and decided to wish for 200 pounds. As a result of this, their son dies in a work accident and they receive a 200 pound compensation for his death. Mrs White realizes that she can use the monkey's paw “No, she cried triumphantly; we’ll have one more. Go down and get it quickly, and wish our boy alive again. The man set up in bed and flung the bed clothes from his quaking limbs. You are mad! He cried, aghast. (W.W.Jacob 114)” When the man announces to the Whites that their son is dead, it is clear to them that their wish has caused their son's death. This supports the idea that the searching for forbidden knowledge can cause dire consequences. In the Monkey’s paw, the search for the forbidding knowledge of the Monkey’s paw caused the Whites to be punished for it, the death of their son. This punishment from the search for forbidden knowledge is an element of horror.
Through an analysis, the Monkey’s Paw belongs in the horror genre based on a suspense plot, hesitation about believing in the supernatural and searching for forbidding knowledge which leads to punishment. A story in the horror genre just doesn’t have to be about scaring you. The Monkey’s Paw is a horror story where the outcome is frightening and