What is the main purpose for the Monkey's Paw?
The main purpose of the short story, "The Monkey's Paw" is to explore the dangers of wishing. In the short story, Sergeant-Major Morris gives what seems like a fanciful tale about a magical monkey's paw. According to the story, the paw can grant wishes, but Sergeant-Major Morris warns that the paw is dangerous.
What is the moral of the Monkey Paw?
What is the moral of the "The Monkey's Paw"? The moral of “The Monkey's Paw” is that you should be careful what you wish for, otherwise you might just get it. The White family learns this lesson the hard way after their efforts to interfere with fate end in disaster.
What is the solution in the Monkey's Paw?
The resolution in "The Monkey's Paw" includes Mrs. White crying in disappointment as her husband journeys to the gate, where all he can see is a streetlight shining on a deserted road with no sign of Herbert's zombie corpse. Expert Answers D. Reynolds | Certified Educator The resolution of a story occurs when the main conflict is worked out.
How would you describe the monkeys Paw?
The Monkey's Paw Character List
- Mr. White. The father of Herbert and husband of Mrs. ...
- Mrs. White. The wife of Mr. ...
- Herbert White. The son of Mr. and Mrs. ...
- Sergeant-Major Morris. Morris is tall and well built. He visits the Whites and regales them with exotic tales from his adventures abroad, particularly in India.
Why do Mr. and Mrs. White use the monkey's paw?
Mr. and Mrs. White, urged on by their son Herbert, succumb to temptation and decide to use the magical monkey's paw left by Sergeant-Major Morris to take a short cut to greater prosperity. They do this even though they have been warned by Morris that the monkey's paw is evil.
What is the message of the amoral monkey's paw?
The amoral monkey's paw, having received a wish, simply fulfills it in the most direct and literal way possible, not thinking about whether the price of attaining the wish is worth more than the wish itself. The message of the story, therefore, is that taking short-cuts to our desires can cost us much more than we imagine.
What did the Whites wish for?
At Herbert's request, the Whites wish for the money to pay off the mortgage on their house. Their wish comes true, but it is at a steep cost. Herbert is horribly mangled and killed in a work accident. The compensation from the company for Herbert's death is the exact amount they need to pay off the mortgage. Mrs.
What does Mrs. White wish Herbert would be restored to life?
Mrs. White, in her intense grief, next wishes that Herbert be restored to life. As Herbert comes knocking, Mr. White, knowing he is probably going to be a hideously deformed walking corpse, quickly wishes that he be dead again. The story causes us to focus on the cost of getting what we want.
What does Herbert say about the paw?
Herbert says that two hundred pounds would enable them to pay off the money owed for the house. Mr. White wishes aloud for two hundred pounds as Herbert accompanies him with melodramatic chords played on the piano. Mr. White suddenly cries out and says that the paw moved like a snake in his hand.
Why did Morris put a spell on the paw?
Whites’ urging, Sergeant-Major Morris takes a small, mummified paw out of his pocket. He explains that a fakir (a mystic miracle worker) placed a spell on the paw to prove that people’s lives are governed by fate and that it is dangerous to meddle with fate.
How many times can a sergeant wish on a paw?
According to the sergeant-major, three men can wish on the paw three times each. The sergeant-major himself has already had his three wishes, as has another man, who used his third wish to ask for death. The sergeant-major has considered selling the paw, but he doesn’t want it to cause any more trouble than it already has.
What is the theme of Part I of The White Family?
Part I opens on a dark and stormy night as the three members of the White family relax inside their cozy house. Herbert White and his father are playing a game of chess while Mrs. White knits near the fire. After his son wins, Mr. White complains about the terrible weather and nearly deserted road they live near.
Does the sergeant major sell the paw?
The sergeant-major has considered selling the paw, but he doesn’t want it to cause any more trouble than it already has. Moreover, no one will buy the paw without first seeing proof of its effect. The sergeant-major throws the paw into the fire, and Mr. White quickly rescues it.
What is the theme of the story of the monkey's paw?
Despite being warned about the mysterious talisman–he learns that it had a had a spell put on it by a fakir (holy man) from India who wanted people to understand the dangers of interfering with fate–he takes the paw and wishes for money. His son then dies in an accident, and the family is given the money they wished for. This event emphasizes the story's theme, which is that interfering with fate, especially when driven by greed, leads to tragedy . The tale continues with the fulfillment of two additional wishes due to the supernatural force of the monkey's paw.
Why is superstition important in short stories?
Superstition is thus one of the most important forces in the short tale because of how it affects the reader.
Why did the Whites fall?
The Whites’ downfall comes as the result of wishing for more than what they actually needed. Even though Mr. White feels content with his life—he has a happy family, a comfortable home, and plenty of love—he still uses the monkey’s paw to wish for money that he doesn’t really need. This wish comes true at a steep cost.
Is the paw the reason for Herbert's death?
Superstition. The story never explicitly states that the paw was the reason for Herbert’s death, nor does it reveal whether the mysterious knocker at the White’s home is in fact an undead Herbert. Both events could be a coincidence: the money could have simply happened to be the amount they wished for; the knocking could be a stranger, animals, ...
Where is the monkey's paw set?
The Monkey's Paw Summary. The story is set in England around the turn of the twentieth century. It opens with the elderly Mr. and Mrs. White and their son Herbert in their cozy family home one stormy evening. Father and son are playing chess while Mrs. White knits by the fire. From their conversation, it is apparent they are expecting a visitor.
What does Morris say about the paw?
Morris somewhat reluctantly shows them the paw and declares that an old Indian fakir placed a spell on it. As a result, according to Morris, the paw has the power to grant three wishes, but it brings disaster upon the wisher in the process. Morris then tosses the paw onto the fire, but Mr. White hastily retrieves it.
Who buys the paw from Morris?
Morris then tosses the paw onto the fire, but Mr. White hastily retrieves it. Morris warns him that he should stay away from the paw. However, the Whites are curious, and Mr. White ends up buying the paw from Morris.
What is the theme of the monkey's paw?
What Is the Theme of "The Monkey's Paw"? The theme of "The Monkey's Paw," a short story by W.W. Jacobs, is the danger of wish fulfillment and interfering with fate. In this supernatural tale first published in 1902, a family tampers with fate and pays an enormous price.
Who is the main character in the story of the monkey's paw?
The story's main character, an elderly man named Mr. White, is told of a monkey's paw that has the power to grant three wishes. Despite being warned about the mysterious talisman, he gains access to the paw and wishes for money. His son then dies in an accident, and the family is given the money they wished for.
What is the meaning of the mysterious paw?
The mysterious paw had a spell put on it by a holy man in India who wanted people to understand the negative results of wish fulfillment. Jacobs' tale is considered to be a classic work of literature reminiscent of biblical stories such as that of Adam and Eve, who are tempted by satanic powers. The story is also often compared to horror tales ...