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The Monkey's Paw Essay

825 Words4 Pages

Three wishes are all one needs, because being too simple may be the opposite of what one wants. Wishing for the wrong thing can completely change a person’s life forever. The author, Jacobs was widely remembered for “The Monkey’s Paw” as some people consider it to be one of scariest stories in American Literature. Jacobs came from a poor family, and could be where the White family forms some of their greed. In the short story, The Monkey’s Paw, by W.W. Jacobs, the theme of twisted fate is conveyed through the wishes of the characters. The story starts on a cold, wet night at the England home of the White family. Mr. and Mrs. White and their son Herbert receive a wish-granting paw from a family friend. The Sergeant tried to warn the White family about the paw and even proceeded to throw it into the fire. However, Mr. White grabbed the paw from the fire and asked the sergeant how to wish with it. The first wish, Mr. White asked for two hundred pounds, (which was their currency). When Herbert went to work the next day, he died of a horrendous accident that his company would not take responsibility for. To help the family with their fatality the company offered them two hundred pounds of compensation. After Mr. and Mrs. White heard the answer of the man, they both knew what they had done. After the death of their …show more content…

White was suspicious about making a second wish it didn’t take much for Mrs. White to convince him. “We’ll have one more. Go down and get it quickly, and wish for our boy alive again” Mrs. White said to her husband frantically as she cried to him (Jacobs 6). “I wish for my son alive again” said Mr. White (Jacobs 6). They both waited for Herbert to return, until Mr. White saw a rat pass him on the stairs. Mr. White knew it was Herbert, and Mrs. White ran to the door with excitement to let her son in. Mr. White didn’t want to let the rat inside, but Mrs. White insisted. She couldn’t resist her need to have her son back even if it means as a

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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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Later in the story when the man comes to the White’s house with news about their son, Herbert, Mr and Mrs White are left hanging for a while until they find out officially that their son is dead. As written on page 36, “She broke off suddenly as the sinister meaning of the assurance dawned upon her and she saw the awful confirmation of her fears in the other’s perverted face... There was a long silence.”, after the moment of silence the visitor states how the son died because he was caught in the machinery. Mrs. White didn’t know at first that Herbert was dead for sure and neither did the readers which built up the suspense until the man said he was caught in the machinery. Lastly, Mrs.White had made Mr.White wish for Herbert alive again and ran down the stairs at the knock on the door assuming it was Herbert, although we never found out if he was initially there or not because Mrs.White couldn’t reach the

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In the story, “Monkey’s Paw”, W.W Jacobs creates mystery and tension by showing the power of the monkey paw. With the power of the monkey paw you could make any 3 wishes you would like and they would happen. But it was not guaranteed that what you wish for would be positive or negative, so that creates the mysterious tone. Also the wishes that were made in the book were kind of crazy, so that creates the tension. In the first part it says, “ I do not know what the first two were, but the third was for death.”

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The video and the story have some big differences in plot. While Herbert and Mr. White is discussing what to wish for he states,“Wish to be a king, father, to begin with; then mother can’t complain all the time.” While in the short film Herbert suggested for his father to wish to be an emperor. The plot also differs when the family is talking about money. Herbert states “Well, wish for two hundred pounds, then; that’ll just do it.”

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Yes, Herbert was at the door at the end of “The Monkey’s Paw” and he came back as the undead. Firstly, the family wished for 200 pounds and when they received it, it was because their son died. Then the dad made the wish, “‘I wish my son alive again” (Jacobs 8). This means that they made a wish for their son to come back with a magical monkey’s paw that grants wishes just like in the story of “Aladdin.” As a general rule, if someone has some way to bring someone back they will and it will work.

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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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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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The conflict of the “Monkey’s Paw” was the curse the monkey paw had on the family causing death in the family. After the wish was asked for in order to get it death had to happen which caused the family to hate the monkey’s paw. “He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who tried to change it would be sorry” ( Jacobs 2 ) .This illustrates that when someone wishes from the monkey paw something bad happens after it.

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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.

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Mr.White ran as fast as possible, legs burning with every step. He made up his mind that someone had to find Herbert, and when they did, he figured he would just get re-buried. Although Herbert cannot get very far no matter how hard he tries. Besides, the worse had already happened, there was nothing to lose now. That’s why as soon as he got to his house, he made his way inside and locked the door.

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Mrs. White flung open the door to reveal Herbert. He looked just like the day he left the house for work. Mr. White took a good look at his son and instantly knew that something wasn’t quite right. There was no trick, no loophole in the wish… Herbert was actually alive!

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In the story “The Monkey’s Paw” the theme is don’t mess with fate and this story elements like character, setting, and plot all help contribute to the theme. The character’s emotions, reaction, and actions are a significant role in revealing the theme. The setting, though not realized as much actually shapes the story too. As normal, plot most definitely contributes to the theme. The character’s reaction contributes to the theme.

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