Ominosity is one of the greatest factors needed to create a compelling horror story. The Monkey's Paw takes place in the villa of the White family. A dreadful event dawns upon them when they decide to use a magical monkey paw, even after being informed of the horrors of its past. Ominosity is a great tool incorporated in the story to add suspense as the characters reveal their impending doom due to the monkey paw. The mood of "The Monkey's Paw" changes throughout the story, but always remains ominous. An ominous feeling is created from the very beginning of the story by grasping readers through a sense of uneasiness. The text states, Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnam Villa the blinds were drawn and the …show more content…
While there is currently calmness in the villa, ominousity informs readers something dark is to come later on. Ominosity further progresses within the story when Mr. White and his son Herbert are playing chess in the villa, and suddenly a strange visitor, Sergeant-Major Morris, arrives to warn them as to the tells of a monkey paw in which he brings. He explains how an old fakir cast a spell on the paw. According to the text, Sergeant-Major Morris says, He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it (W.W. Jacobs). This text foreshadows the lesson characters will approach once they use the monkey paw themselves, and their dreadful fate is revealed. Sergeant Major Morris revealing this provides further ominosity to the story because the monkey paw is now in the possession of Mr. and Mrs. White and their son; indicating that they will likely use it and unfortunate events will take place. Later on, the family decides to make their first wish for money upon the monkey