The Monkey's Paw Foreshadowing

Everyone turns a blind eye to the consequences of their actions but they shouldn't, even if ego and selfish desires may blind them for a moment. William Wymark Jacobs uses his short story, The Monkey's Paw, to teach the reader this flaw in human nature. Jacobs sprinkled literary devices throughout the story to focus the reader's attention on instances where the main characters, the three members of the White family, were warned about the possible consequences of their actions. They ignored warnings because of how bad their desire for something was. The Whites got their hands on a monkey's paw which is this magical object that had the power to grant a wish. The bliss from that possibility blinded them from the reality that what comes to you,

Towards the beginning of the story, Jacob uses foreshadowing to express his message that you should always think your actions through because blindly chasing what you want may lead to harm or consequences. The author foreshadowed that the White family's wishes will have consequences, Sergeant-Major Morris tells the White family not to blame him if something goes wrong. The Sergeant-Major said “‘If you keep it, don’t hold me responsible for what happens. Throw it on the fire like a sensible man.’” (Jacob 3) implying that something bad will happen later if and after someone makes a wish. Telling the White family not to hold him responsible for what happens and saying it would be sensible to get rid of the paw. Jacobs uses

People do not think about the consequences of their actions and only acknowledge the immediate reward or happiness they will receive. Mr. White asked Sergeant Morris about the Monkey's paw he had, ¨telling me the other day about a monkey's paw¨(Jacob 2). In Chinese culture monkeys symbolize fortune and luck which are more magical, further symbolizing the wishes. In other Asian cultures, a monkey symbolizes more positive ideas like joy and happiness. The White family was happy because they believed their wishes might come true. Jacob using the monkey's paw for the magical object also symbolizes how the family feels when their wish might be granted. Representing the joy you feel when you get what you want but don't know what harm might be caused, you are tricked into believing that the only thing that will happen is your wish being granted. You might believe you are getting what you want but don't fully realize that something unpleasant can come with that, there is usually a price to pay, something to give up. Mr. White freaks out while making a wish because the paw moved "' As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake.’"(Jacob 4) he said. The author compares the monkey paw that grants wishes with a snake because snakes symbolize malicious intent and trickery. Later the reader learns that the wishes are