Monkey's Paw
“The Monkey’s Paw” is a short story made by W.W. Jacobs, that is about a monkey’s paw given to a family for them to grant three wishes, but what they don’t know is that it comes with consequences. So by looking through the events, the setting, and the character interactions, readers could relate that the theme is be careful of what you wish for. Accordingly, the events of “The Monkey’s Paw” does affiliate with be careful of what you wish for because of the consequences made after each wish. Like when Mr.White wished for two hundred pounds to pay off the house, then was given two hundred pounds of compensation for Herbert’s death. “They admit no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's services, they wish to present you with
a certain sum as compensation" (Jacobs 93). While he was making his wish he didn’t think about what will happen after the wish was granted, therefore his consequence was losing his son. Another event, was when Mrs.White made him wish for Herbert to come back, but received constant knocking from an unknown thing. “At the foot of the stairs the match went out, and he paused to strike another; and at the same moment a knock, so quiet and stealthy as to be scarcely audible, sounded on the front door” (Jacobs 130). His wish was mainly forced by his wife, but he followed her orders and didn’t think about the outcomes anymore. Overall, the events brought back to the theme, be careful of what you wish for because the characters didn’t think about their actions. Correspondingly, the setting of “The Monkey’s Paw” is like a warning that something ominous might happen. Such as the house being located in an isolated area on a dark and stormy night. “Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnum Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly” (Jacobs 1). The dark and stormy vibe gave a feeling of something sinister about to occur. Also when Mr.White and Mrs.White make it to their door to find a deserted and quiet road with a flickering lamp. “The street lamp flickering opposite shone on a quiet and deserted road” (Jacobs 144). Which set an eerie atmosphere to knowing if it was actually Herbert or not. In conclusion, the setting is set in a tone where readers can feel that something bad might happen. Furthermore, in “The Monkey’s Paw” the character interactions showed how they discussed about the how use of the monkey’s paw can be so potent. For instance, when Sergeant-Major Morris told them about the paw, then Mrs.White banters about wishing to have four arms. “Don't you think you might wish for four pairs of hands for me” (Jacobs 45). She was joking around about the paw and thinking that it was a joke, but what she didn’t know was how uncontrollable it was. In addition, when Sergeant-Major Morris talked about the man who used the paw before him, and how he made his final wish to be death. “I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death” (Jacobs 33). The way he was talking about how the powerful the paw was to make that man want his final wish to be death. To summarize, the discussions were about power that the monkey’s paw contains in the character interactions. To conclude, the events, setting, and character interactions all related to the theme, which is be careful of what you wish for. For the events, it connected because of the consequences made after every wish, the setting was by the warnings of something ominous happening, and the character interactions having to discuss the power the paw contains
a certain sum as compensation" (Jacobs 93). While he was making his wish he didn’t think about what will happen after the wish was granted, therefore his consequence was losing his son. Another event, was when Mrs.White made him wish for Herbert to come back, but received constant knocking from an unknown thing. “At the foot of the stairs the match went out, and he paused to strike another; and at the same moment a knock, so quiet and stealthy as to be scarcely audible, sounded on the front door” (Jacobs 130). His wish was mainly forced by his wife, but he followed her orders and didn’t think about the outcomes anymore. Overall, the events brought back to the theme, be careful of what you wish for because the characters didn’t think about their actions. Correspondingly, the setting of “The Monkey’s Paw” is like a warning that something ominous might happen. Such as the house being located in an isolated area on a dark and stormy night. “Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnum Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly” (Jacobs 1). The dark and stormy vibe gave a feeling of something sinister about to occur. Also when Mr.White and Mrs.White make it to their door to find a deserted and quiet road with a flickering lamp. “The street lamp flickering opposite shone on a quiet and deserted road” (Jacobs 144). Which set an eerie atmosphere to knowing if it was actually Herbert or not. In conclusion, the setting is set in a tone where readers can feel that something bad might happen. Furthermore, in “The Monkey’s Paw” the character interactions showed how they discussed about the how use of the monkey’s paw can be so potent. For instance, when Sergeant-Major Morris told them about the paw, then Mrs.White banters about wishing to have four arms. “Don't you think you might wish for four pairs of hands for me” (Jacobs 45). She was joking around about the paw and thinking that it was a joke, but what she didn’t know was how uncontrollable it was. In addition, when Sergeant-Major Morris talked about the man who used the paw before him, and how he made his final wish to be death. “I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death” (Jacobs 33). The way he was talking about how the powerful the paw was to make that man want his final wish to be death. To summarize, the discussions were about power that the monkey’s paw contains in the character interactions. To conclude, the events, setting, and character interactions all related to the theme, which is be careful of what you wish for. For the events, it connected because of the consequences made after every wish, the setting was by the warnings of something ominous happening, and the character interactions having to discuss the power the paw contains