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'The Monkey's Paw' By W. Jacobs

529 Words3 Pages

Short Story Analysis “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs tragically ends on a cliffhanger, but that does not stop the reader from interpreting the many ideas and messages Jacobs provides throughout the story. In “The Monkey’s Paw” W.W. Jacobs explores gender roles, showcases the use of transformation through his characters, and delves into themes of horror and supernatural.
The story may have a dominant male presence; however, Jacobs incorporated one strong woman character. Mr. and Mrs. White are the main characters in this tale; With these characters Jacobs uses them to break specific gender roles. Right from the get-go the narrator explains how much smarter Mrs. White is compared to her husband, and we also learn how her husband obeys and listens to her. Since this piece is set in the 1900s it is odd to see a man, especially an older gentlemen, act this way in this …show more content…

When first given the monkey’s paw Mr. White is more than eager to use. He wants to use it in a selfless and at the same time selfish way, he wants to pay off a debt and have a little extra. Mrs. White really didn’t care for it at first if anything she disregarded it. After the first wish got granted, which lead to the tragedy of their son. The reader can see that it deeply affect Mr. and Mrs. White in the most negative way. Mrs. White, the same woman who didn’t want to make a wish, now wants to use the monkey’s paw to resurrect her dead son. This change shows that she isn’t thinking very clearly because she knows that the paw comes with dangerous consequences. On the other hand, we have Mr. White who was excited to use the paw in the first place now wishing her not to bring their son because he knows it will bring nothing but trouble. This shows he has matured from the beginning of the story and is going to sacrifice the change to see his son or whatever is coming in order to be safe from the

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This passage is important to the significance of The Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacobs because it is a big climatic moment in the text. This is shown through the dialogue used throughout this passage, the tone that Jacobs establishes, and again, the climatic moment shown. The significance of the short story is shown in this passage through the interesting dialogue Jacobs includes. The use of dialogue is important because it allows the reader to understand the characters and their feelings more.

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298 Words | 2 Pages

In this essay, i will be telling you about the two stories that we read. First, i will be telling you about “The Monkey’s Paw.” , it’s a story Sergeant Major Moris brings The White family a magic monkey paw that grants any three wishes that you want. The next story is “The Third Wish.” which is about a man that frees a swan that is in trouble that turns out to be the king of the forest.

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762 Words | 4 Pages

In the monkey paw this happens many times start to build suspense in the story. On lines 91-93 it states, “The first man had his three wishes… I don't know the first two were, but the third was death,” this make you start thinking that the paw is going to curse to family but when. The foreshadowing keeps going on by saying the paw moved in his hand when wishing, which makes you go the same thing that happens to the first man will happen again. The mom also tries to get the paw to make the son come to life which they do, which helps you for shadow what he will look like after the machinery accident. This also add suspense because you are waiting for the son Herbert to come home, but he doesn't come until the next page.

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726 Words | 3 Pages

Thesis: In The Monkey's Paw by W.W Jacobs, the realistic essence of the monkey's paw made it fundamentally creepy. Point 1: The monkey's paw is a symbol for inclination for greed, exposing our superior wants as people, even the most humble. Point 2: Consequences for the actions of those using the paw develops the image of regret and fear. Point 3:

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155 Words | 1 Pages

The blame for all the events that were caused by the paw shouldn’t be put onto one person. However, Mrs.White did still preasure her husband to use the paw again even after the first wish killed her son. This detail confirms that although she was probably blinded by all her grief, she still made a rash decision to use it again. Also, she forced her husband to bring back their son.

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753 Words | 4 Pages

Imagine you were granted three wishes; and that's all. You can make whatever wishes you desire, but if not justifiable or reasonable, there could be a price to pay. The short story "The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs discusses the alarming tale of an older couple being granted "three wishes" from a monkey's paw given to them. However, the purpose of the paw isn't to grant wishes; it is to show that you shouldn't change your fate. The film adaptation of the short story by Ricky Lewis Jr. also showcases that moral.

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401 Words | 2 Pages

"The Monkey's Paw" is a short story by W.W. Jacobs tells the story of a family who comes into possession of a cursed monkey's paw that grants wishes, but with deadly consequences. The story's tone is somewhat ominous, evoking a sense of dread as the characters unfold the dark forces unleashed by the paw. Through his use of great imagery and foreshadowing Jacobs creates a really suspenseful atmosphere that grips readers from beginning to the end of the story. The tone in the "The Monkey's Paw" is established from the beginning of the story. Jacobs uses vivid and evocative language to describe the setting and characters, creating a sense of unease.

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1566 Words | 7 Pages

In W. W. Jacobs’ short story, “The Monkey’s Paw,” the White family’s innocent want for a better life is challenged when a magical talisman plagues their family through its wishes. When faced with death, humans have different ways of dealing with the rollercoaster of feelings that accompanies it. The family has to overcome grief, disappointment, and anger as they live their lives without their son. Through these emotions, the characters are being taught not to act foolishly, but they never learn. Through foreshadowing and situational irony, the story “The Monkey’s Paw” conveys the theme of how innocent intentions can have terrible repercussions.

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1115 Words | 5 Pages

Trifles by Susan Glaspell opens when the County Attorney says, “Come up to the fire, ladies (1156).” Obediently, the women follow even though they are not cold. This is the first instance where the role of masculinity is shown in the play. Both the men and women are present in the same house and working on the same case.

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546 Words | 3 Pages

In The Monkeys Paw, Mrs. White used the magical object (monkey’s paw). One out of the three wishes granted using the monkeys paw was to have her son back. The outcome of this was pounding at the door, not knowing exactly who was behind the door. The Monkeys Paw is all about granting wishes and not expecting its outcome. This is comparable to The Story of an Hour because Mrs. Mallard wished to have her husband back in her life, but she didn’t expect the outcome of actually seeing her husband alive.

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776 Words | 4 Pages

With Morris’s face whitening, it tacitly tells the audience that something terrifying happened when Morris made his wishes. This foreshadows that something dreadful will happen once the Whites make their wishes. Question 2: Compare Mr. White’s feelings about the monkey’s paw when he makes the first wish, second wish, and third wish. How does his attitude change?

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948 Words | 4 Pages

Ever since nuclear power became a legitimate source of electricity, its use has polarized into 2 main positions. The proponents of nuclear power talk about the financial and environmental benefits while the opponents talk about plant meltdowns like Fukushima, Chernobyl, or Three Mile Island. While the opposition is correct in saying that nuclear meltdowns pose a danger to society, there are many important and details left out in their argument like the consequences of current conventional forms of electricity generation and the tight regulation on nuclear plants. Currently in the US, many regulations and procedures are conducted by individual states. In Michigan in 2016, Gov. Snyder released a proposal to close the Palisades Nuclear power plant.

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446 Words | 2 Pages

“The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs and “What of this Goldfish Would You Wish?” by Egaret Keret are both exciting fictional short stories that engage the reader. There are many differences as well as similarities between the two stories. Overall, the two stores are more diverse. The differences lie in the areas of character traits and plot. Even though “The Monkey’s Paw” and “What of this Goldfish Would You Wish?” have many similarities, evidence shows the two stories have less in common.

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582 Words | 3 Pages

The conflict in the story is not only the monkey’s paw but was somewhat Mr. White’s attitude. If he never was that greedy the story would have changed he would have agreed with Morris and burned the monkey’s paw but he didn’t want to do that creating the plot. Any change in the plot could have/ would have altered the course of the story but also altering the theme. In “The Monkey’s Paw,” the downfall of the White family is when they receive the two hundred pounds as a compensation for the son’s death which was actually caused by messing with fate.

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825 Words | 4 Pages

In the short story, The Monkey 's Paw we are first introduced to the White, the Mrs.White, Mr.White, and their son, Herbert White. Later in the story, we are introduced to Sergeant Major Morris who brought the mummy-like monkey’s paw to the Whites house. The theme of the Monkey 's paw is to never interfere with fate. The theme is shown through many forms in the short story. The forms are the events, the foreshadowing, and the actions.

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