Horror In The Monkey's Paw

W.W Jacobs once said, “Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it”. Horror is a genre that seeks to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on their fears. “The Monkey’s Paw” falls perfectly in this genre. “The Monkey’s Paw” is a horror story written by W.W Jacobs. In the story,the monkey’s paw grants three wishes to three different people. The wishes always lead to a bad event in life. “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W Jacobs fits the criteria necessary to make it a part of the horror genre because of the source of horror, the suspense throughout the story, and the spooky setting. Throughout “Monkey’s Paw”, the source of horror plays a hefty part in the story. The monkey’s paw is a mummified paw that grants 3 wishes to 3 different characters. In the story Mr. and Mrs. White are the second users of the monkey’s

At the beginning of “Monkey’s Paw” the reader finds himself asking, “What the monkey’s paw?” When Sergeant Morris first introduces the monkey’s paw, he tries to act like the monkey’s paw is not important. “It’s just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy”(107).He does this so the White’s don”t worry about the true importance of the paw. When Sergeant Morris finally tells the White’s about the magic behind the monkey’s paw, he says, “but I warn you of the consequences”. This makes the audience wonder what’s so bad about the monkey’s paw. In addition, When Mr. and Mrs. White decide to keep the monkeys paw, one of the wishes they make is for their son Herbert to come back alive. When Mrs. White comes up with the idea, Mr. White is highly against it. He thinks that they should not mess with the dead.”It’s foolish and wicked”, Mr. White says after hearing the wish(115). The audience is left wondering, “Will Mr. White ever make the wish?” After Mr. White finally decides to make the wish, he immediately wishes for he’s son not to come back. He does this to protect him and his wife from evil