The Importance Of Setting In The Monkey's Paw

The main setting of The Monkey’s Paw is inside and around the White’s house called

Laburnum Villa, somewhere in Great Britain. The time is around 1902 when the story is

published. The first part of the story is a single night of the White family life's, part two is the

following day, and part three is ten days after Herbert dies. As the story unfolds, it starts with the

common dark, stormy night and inside it is warm, with chess, fireplace and knitting. As the night

keeps going, it starts to get darker and spookier. What makes this feeling are spooky shadows

from candles and creaking stairs. After Herbert dies the house becomes “steeped in shadow and

silence" as said by Mrs. White.

The setting changes throughout the plot. The exposition starts by

Major Morris then throws the talisman of a monkey’s paw away and the White’s family takes it

for themselves. That is the ending of the exposition because the rising action begins once the first

wish is made.

The climax starts with them noticing Herbert was dead and receiving the 200 pounds

from the first wish, then make the second wish which was to bring their son back and ends with

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suddenly there is a knocking on the door. That is when the falling action is made with the

knocking ceases suddenly the chair is drawn back from the door and the door is opened. The

resolution of the story is when Mr. White made his last wish and heard Mrs. White wail of

disappointment as she opened the door and saw nothing but an empty road and with Mr. White

walks out the door and the street is quiet and deserted.

The conflict of The Monkey’s Paw is Man vs. Fate. It all starts when Sergeant Major

Morris explains that a fakir wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who

interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He told the family to make sensible wishes and