How The Three Decisions Revealed In The Monkey's Paw

In the story, The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs, the three wishes turn the relationship between Mr. White and Mrs. White from loving and kind to distrustful and filled with conflict and disagreements. Although at first the Monkey’s Paw was assumed to be a hoax, the revelation following Herbert’s death signifies the downfall of their once happy marriage.

One of the first hints of the downfall is the second wish made by Mrs. White for the resurrection of Herbert. At first, Mr. White was hesitant to do so. On page 8, Mr. White says weakly, “It is foolish and wicked,” Mr. White knows that it will not be the same despite the wish, and knows that it will be different. The conflict amplifies once they begin to hear knocks on the house’s door, and Mrs. White assumes this person is her late son, Herbert. “” It’s my boy Herbert!” she cried, struggling automatically. “I forgot it was two miles away. What are you holding me for? Leg to. I must open the door.” Mrs. White is evidently blinded by grief from her son. The uncanny noises and sounds the creature makes startles Mr. White, causing him to hold

Although the third and final wish is never directly stated, it could be assumed that Mr. White wishes for the thing at the door to be gone. “He heard the movement of the lock as she began to open it, and at the same moment he found the monkey’s paw, and frantically breathed his third and last wish. The knocking stopped suddenly, although the echoes of it were still in the house.” The sudden stopping of the knocks on Page 9 helps to prove that the third wish for it all to be done. In the final paragraph of the story, Mrs. White's heavy grief and the weight of his actions causes Mr. White to run away from the house and all of his problems. Earlier in the story, when Mrs. White was distraught, Mr. White comforted her. Now, he runs away from her, creating closure for the story and their