Putting Faith In W. W Jacobs A Monkey's Paw
Through the story, “A Monkey’s Paw”, W.W Jacobs uses the character, Mr.White, to show that putting faith in a talisman and interfering with fate will wreck people’s lives. While the family and Sargent are discussing the spell put on the monkey’s paw, the Sargent defeatedly tosses it into the burning flames. Quite suddenly, “White, with a slight cry, [stoops] down and [snatches] it off.” The secret aspiration that he puts in the charm is revealed through that narration. Mr. White believes in the monkey’s paw and its ability to grant wishes enough to quickly grab it off the fire. Even after being warned, he still wants to believe that go. White is curious as to if the paw is nearly a trinket or infact a magic stricken talisman. He is intrigued
although “ [he] does not know what to wish for [because] it seems…[that he has] got all [he] wants.” This quote proves that the wishes are not made out of greed. Rather, they are wished due to a dim hope in an inanimate object. Similar to carrying a four leaf clover, he desires an affirmation in this peculiar charm by receiving his wish. However, as a man with an immense love for his family, he never imagined the horrible physical effect that the paw would have on Herbert nor the emotional toll it would take on his wife and himself. After realizing his fatal mistake, “ the old man [smiles] faintly, [puts] out his hands like a sightless man, and [drops], a senseless heap, to the floor” (7). Mr. White’s defeat is evident in the author’s diction and depiction of his reaction to the tragic news. The word “sightless” shows that he is blinded by both the love and loss of his son. As foreshadowed previously by Sargent, White got his wish but unknowingly made a gigantic sacrifice in the process. Altering with fate will eventually cause more chaos than ever imaginable.
although “ [he] does not know what to wish for [because] it seems…[that he has] got all [he] wants.” This quote proves that the wishes are not made out of greed. Rather, they are wished due to a dim hope in an inanimate object. Similar to carrying a four leaf clover, he desires an affirmation in this peculiar charm by receiving his wish. However, as a man with an immense love for his family, he never imagined the horrible physical effect that the paw would have on Herbert nor the emotional toll it would take on his wife and himself. After realizing his fatal mistake, “ the old man [smiles] faintly, [puts] out his hands like a sightless man, and [drops], a senseless heap, to the floor” (7). Mr. White’s defeat is evident in the author’s diction and depiction of his reaction to the tragic news. The word “sightless” shows that he is blinded by both the love and loss of his son. As foreshadowed previously by Sargent, White got his wish but unknowingly made a gigantic sacrifice in the process. Altering with fate will eventually cause more chaos than ever imaginable.