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Monkey Paw Essay

571 Words3 Pages

The “Monkey's Paw” by W. W. Jacobs is a short story about a family of three that came upon a magic monkey paw. They made a wish that killed their son and it made them hate it. They tried to figure out how to get their son back, they made a wish to have their son back. When a ghost started to haunt them, they made their final wish to have the ghost go away. Through the action of the characters, the reader can understand that the story “Monkey Paw” is telling people to be careful about what they wish for.
In the beginning of the story, Sergeant Major Morris brings the monkey paw to a family of three. He tells them about the monkey paw and about how, “‘The first man had his three wishes, yes,’ was the reply. ‘I don’t know what the first two wishes were, but the third wish was for death. That's how I got the paw.’” (page 49) This shows people should be careful what they wish for because the first man who owned it used all three wishes but his third one was for death. This is significant because it shows the reader that the paw must be bad if he wished for death. This shows the reader to be careful what they wish for. …show more content…

They sit there for a minute wondering what to wish for. After a while they know what to wish for, “‘I wish for two hundred pounds,’ said the old man distinctly.” The next day after they made this wish they had news that their son died horribly. “‘He was caught in the machinery,’ said the visitor at length, in a low voice.”(page 50) This shows people should be careful what they wish for because the White family wished for 200 pounds and they got it, but they didn’t receive it the way they thought. This is significant because if they didn’t wish for the money their son would still be here. This shows the reader to always be careful what they wish

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In the story, “The Monkey’s Paw,” by WW Jacobs, the White family have their friend, Sargent- Major Morris over at their house. With him, he brought stories of the wars he fought in, but he also brought the story of The Monkey’s Paw, which was a legend that said that the three people who were in possession of the monkey’s paw were granted three wishes. Mr. White received the monkey’s paw from Sargent Major and decided to make a wish. The course of his events, documented in the story, were soon made into a movie.

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Restate point one: The intensive essence of the paw bring out the greed and desire us humans hold. Restate point two: Appealing in power but dreadful in experience encourage one to re-think their choices and reflect.

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