Who Was Responsible For The Monkey's Paw

In the story, “The Monkey’s Paw”, the White’s acquire a monkey’s paw from an old friend. The friend reveals that the paw is considered magic and then gives it to the Whites, starting a chain of events that brings sorrow to the family. However, just who is responsible for the misfortune that came to the Whites? Sergeant- Major Morris, the friend, is responsible for the whole incident. He told them about the paw, taught them how use it, and he ultimately let them have it. The first point that makes Sergeant-Major Morris the most responsible is that he decided to tell the Whites about the monkey paw. When asked about what he meant by a monkey’s paw, he replied, “Well, it’s just a bit of what you might call magic, perhaps, ” (McDonnell, Miller, Hogan 9). Furthermore, when asked if his wishes came true, he replied, “I did”. ( 9). This started all sorts of ideas and possibilities in the Whites’ minds, thinking of how with the paw they can get all they ever wanted. Knowing what happens to the family later in the story, if we think about it, if Sergeant-Major Morris had never told the story behind the paw or that it worked they would have never wanted it. In short, if Sergeant-Major Morris

He told the them, “Hold it up in your right hand and wish aloud,” (9). Morris had already let them know the paw works ( 9), but now he told them how to use it. If he had not told them how to use it, they could never have wished for anything therefore none of the sorrows that came with wishing on the paw would happen. Furthermore the Whites may already be interested in the paw, but without the knowledge of how to use it the paw would simply be a souvenir from a foreign land. So, in brief because Sergeant-Major Morris told the Whites how to use the paw they now have the potential to wish, which does not end well for