The Monkeys Paw Analysis by WW Jacobs

“The Monkey’s Paw” is a famous short story written by W.W. Jacobs, an English author known for his horror fiction. First published in 1902, this story has captivated readers for over a century with its eerie atmosphere and thought-provoking themes.

In this post, we’ll dive deep into the story’s plot, characters, themes, and symbolism, exploring why it continues to be a beloved classic in the horror genre.

The Story at a Glance

Before we delve into the details, let’s take a quick look at what “The Monkey’s Paw” is all about:

• An old dried-up monkey’s paw has the power to grant three wishes
• A family comes into possession of this magical item
• They make wishes that have unexpected and tragic consequences
• The story explores themes of fate, greed, and the dangers of messing with the natural order of things

Now, let’s break down the story’s elements and examine them more closely.

Plot Summary

Setting the Scene

The story begins on a dark and stormy night (a classic opening for a horror tale) in England. We’re introduced to the White family: Mr. and Mrs. White and their adult son Herbert. They’re waiting for a visitor, Sergeant-Major Morris, an old friend of Mr. White who has spent many years in India.

The Monkey’s Paw Introduced

When Sergeant-Major Morris arrives, he brings with him a strange souvenir from his travels: a mummified monkey’s paw. He explains that a holy man put a spell on the paw, giving it the power to grant three wishes to three different people. However, Morris warns that these wishes come at a terrible price.

The First Wish

Despite the warnings, Mr. White decides to keep the paw and make a wish. At Herbert’s suggestion, he wishes for £200 to pay off the mortgage on their house. Nothing happens immediately, and the family goes to bed, somewhat disappointed.

Tragic Consequences

The next day, Herbert goes to work at a local factory. Later, a man from the company arrives at the White’s home with terrible news: Herbert has been killed in a machinery accident. The company offers the family £200 as compensation – the exact amount Mr. White had wished for.

The Second Wish

Grief-stricken and desperate, Mrs. White convinces her husband to use the paw again, this time to wish for Herbert to come back to life. Mr. White reluctantly agrees, even though ten days have passed since Herbert’s death and burial.

A Terrifying Knock

Late that night, there’s a knocking at the door. Mrs. White rushes to open it, believing it’s Herbert returned from the grave. Mr. White, realizing the horrible mistake they’ve made, frantically searches for the paw to make a final wish.

The Third Wish

Just as Mrs. White is about to open the door, Mr. White finds the paw and makes his third and final wish. The knocking stops abruptly, and when Mrs. White finally gets the door open, there’s no one there.

Character Analysis

Mr. White

Mr. White is the protagonist of the story. He’s described as an older man who enjoys taking risks, as shown by his interest in chess and his willingness to use the monkey’s paw despite the warnings. His character arc shows how he moves from curiosity and skepticism to regret and horror as he realizes the true cost of his wishes.

Mrs. White

Mrs. White is portrayed as a loving wife and mother. She’s initially more cautious about the paw but becomes desperate after Herbert’s death. Her grief drives her to push for the second wish, showing how loss can cloud judgment and lead to rash decisions.

Herbert White

Herbert is the Whites’ adult son, described as smart and good-humored. He treats the monkey’s paw as a joke at first, suggesting the wish for £200. His death serves as the catalyst for the story’s main conflict and demonstrates the unexpected ways wishes can be granted.

Sergeant-Major Morris

Morris serves as the bearer of the monkey’s paw and the voice of warning in the story. His experiences in India and his knowledge of the paw’s dark history make him a mysterious and slightly ominous figure.

Themes and Symbolism

The Danger of Interfering with Fate

One of the central themes in “The Monkey’s Paw” is the idea that we shouldn’t try to change our fate or the natural order of things. Each wish the Whites make disrupts the normal course of events, leading to disastrous consequences.

Example: When Mr. White wishes for money, it comes at the cost of his son’s life. This shows that trying to gain something without earning it can lead to unforeseen and tragic results.

The Price of Greed

The story also explores the theme of greed and its consequences. The Whites are not portrayed as particularly greedy people, but their desire for a little extra money (and later, to undo death itself) leads them down a dark path.

Example: The £200 wish seems harmless at first, but it ultimately costs them far more than they gain. This illustrates how the pursuit of material wealth can sometimes lead to losing what’s truly valuable in life.

The Unknown and Supernatural

“The Monkey’s Paw” plays with the fear of the unknown and the supernatural. The paw itself is a symbol of mysterious forces beyond human understanding or control.

Example: The knocking at the door near the end of the story represents the terrifying unknown. Is it Herbert, returned from the grave? The reader’s imagination is left to run wild, which is often scarier than any explicit description.

Be Careful What You Wish For

This common saying is at the heart of the story. The Whites learn the hard way that getting what you want isn’t always a good thing, especially if you haven’t considered all the possible outcomes.

Example: Mrs. White’s wish for Herbert to come back to life doesn’t specify that he should return as he was before the accident. The implication is that he may have returned in his mangled, post-accident state, or as a decomposed corpse.

Literary Techniques

Foreshadowing

Jacobs uses foreshadowing throughout the story to build tension and hint at the tragic events to come.

Example: When Herbert jokes about the paw, saying, “I expect you’ll find the cash tied up in a big bag in the middle of your bed,” he unknowingly foreshadows his own death, which will indeed bring the money to his parents.

Irony

The story is full of ironic twists, where characters’ actions lead to results opposite of what they intended.

Example: The Whites wish for money to improve their lives, but it ends up bringing them misery instead. The very thing they thought would help them becomes the source of their greatest sorrow.

Atmosphere and Mood

Jacobs creates a creepy, suspenseful atmosphere right from the start with his description of the stormy weather and the isolated setting of the White’s home.

Example: The opening line, “Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Laburnam Villa the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly,” sets up a contrast between the cozy interior and the hostile outside world, hinting at the intrusion of supernatural forces into the Whites’ comfortable life.

The Ending: Open to Interpretation

The ambiguous ending of “The Monkey’s Paw” is one of its most discussed aspects. Jacobs leaves it to the reader’s imagination to decide what exactly was knocking at the door and what Mr. White’s final wish might have been.

Some possible interpretations include:

1. Herbert returned as a horrifying undead creature, and Mr. White wished him back to his grave.
2. It was merely a coincidence, and someone else was at the door.
3. The knocking was a supernatural occurrence caused by the paw, but not actually Herbert.

This open ending allows readers to choose the interpretation that scares them the most, making the story personally terrifying for each individual.

Impact and Legacy

“The Monkey’s Paw” has had a lasting impact on literature and popular culture. Its influence can be seen in numerous stories, films, and TV shows that deal with wishes gone wrong or the idea of “be careful what you wish for.”

Some examples of works influenced by or similar to “The Monkey’s Paw” include:

• “The Twilight Zone” episode “The Man in the Bottle”
• Stephen King’s novel “Pet Sematary”
• The “Wishmaster” film series
• Various episodes of supernatural TV shows like “Supernatural” and “The X-Files”

The story’s enduring popularity is a testament to its effective use of horror elements and its exploration of universal themes that continue to resonate with readers today.

Lessons from “The Monkey’s Paw”

While “The Monkey’s Paw” is primarily a work of horror fiction, it also offers some valuable life lessons:

1. Appreciate what you have: The Whites’ tragedy begins with their desire for just a little more money, despite seeming content at the start of the story.
2. Consider the consequences: The story teaches us to think carefully about our actions and their potential outcomes.
3. Respect the natural order: The story suggests that there are some boundaries we shouldn’t cross, even if we have the power to do so.
4. Be wary of “quick fixes”: The monkey’s paw represents the allure of easy solutions to life’s problems, but the story shows how these can often backfire.
5. The power of suggestion: Much of the horror in the story comes from what is implied rather than stated outright, reminding us that our imaginations can often conjure up the scariest scenarios.

Why “The Monkey’s Paw” Remains Relevant

Despite being over a century old, “The Monkey’s Paw” continues to captivate readers and inspire new adaptations. Here’s why:

1. Universal themes: The story deals with common human desires and fears that are just as relevant today as they were in 1902.
2. Psychological horror: Rather than relying on gore or jump scares, the story creates fear through suggestion and implication, a technique that remains effective across generations.
3. Moral complexity: The characters aren’t simply good or evil; they’re relatable people making understandable (if misguided) choices, which adds depth to the story.
4. Compact storytelling: In just a few thousand words, Jacobs creates a complete and impactful narrative, making it accessible and memorable.
5. Adaptability: The core concept of the story – wishes with unforeseen consequences – is easily adaptable to different settings and time periods, allowing for numerous reinterpretations.

Writing Style and Technique

W.W. Jacobs’ writing style in “The Monkey’s Paw” contributes significantly to the story’s effectiveness. Here are some key aspects of his technique:

1. Economical prose: Jacobs doesn’t waste words. Every sentence serves a purpose, either advancing the plot, developing characters, or building atmosphere.
2. Dialogue: The conversations between characters feel natural and reveal much about their personalities and relationships.
3. Pacing: The story starts slowly, building tension gradually, then accelerates towards its climactic ending.
4. Descriptive language: Jacobs uses vivid descriptions to set the scene and create mood, particularly in his depiction of the stormy night and the monkey’s paw itself.
5. Understatement: Much of the horror is understated, leaving readers to fill in the blanks with their imagination.

Analyzing the Monkey’s Paw as a Symbol

The monkey’s paw itself is a rich symbol with multiple layers of meaning:

1. Exoticism and the unknown: As an object from India, it represents the mysterious “East” and unknown dangers.
2. Human hubris: It symbolizes humanity’s desire to control fate and natural laws.
3. Corruption: The paw is described as dried and mummified, suggesting decay and evil.
4. Monkey’s hand: The similarity to a human hand makes it unsettling, while its animal nature suggests primitive, uncontrolled forces.
5. Three wishes: This connects the story to fairy tales and folklore, but with a dark twist.

The Role of Setting in “The Monkey’s Paw”

The setting plays a crucial role in creating the story’s atmosphere:

1. Isolated house: Laburnam Villa is described as being some distance from other houses, adding to the sense of vulnerability.
2. Stormy weather: The wind and rain create a classic horror story backdrop.
3. Cozy interior: The contrast between the warm, safe interior and the hostile outside world heightens the sense of intrusion when supernatural events occur.
4. England vs. India: The story plays on the contrast between familiar, “civilized” England and the exotic, potentially dangerous India.

Comparing “The Monkey’s Paw” to Other Horror Stories

While “The Monkey’s Paw” has its unique elements, it shares some characteristics with other classic horror stories:

1. Like Edgar Allan Poe’s works, it creates horror through psychological tension rather than explicit violence.
2. Similar to Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein,” it explores the consequences of humans meddling with the natural order.
3. Like many gothic stories, it features a cursed object that brings misfortune to its owners.
4. The story’s structure, with its building tension and climactic ending, is similar to many modern horror films.

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FAQs

1. Q: Who wrote “The Monkey’s Paw”? A: “The Monkey’s Paw” was written by W.W. Jacobs, an English author known for his horror and humor writing.
2. Q: When was “The Monkey’s Paw” first published? A: The story was first published in 1902 in the collection “The Lady of the Barge.”
3. Q: What is the main message of “The Monkey’s Paw”? A: The story warns against trying to change fate and emphasizes the potential consequences of our wishes and actions.
4. Q: Is “The Monkey’s Paw” based on a true story? A: No, “The Monkey’s Paw” is a work of fiction. However, it may have been inspired by folklore and cautionary tales about the dangers of wishing.
5. Q: Why is the story called “The Monkey’s Paw”? A: The title refers to the central object in the story – a mummified monkey’s paw that has the power to grant wishes.
6. Q: What are the three wishes made in the story? A: The wishes are for £200, for Herbert to come back to life, and a final wish that is not explicitly stated but presumably undoes the second wish.
7. Q: What happens at the end of “The Monkey’s Paw”? A: The ending is ambiguous. There’s knocking at the door, presumably Herbert returned from the dead, but Mr. White makes a final wish and when the door is opened, no one is there.
8. Q: Why is “The Monkey’s Paw” considered a classic horror story? A: It’s considered a classic due to its effective use of psychological horror, its exploration of universal themes, and its influence on subsequent horror literature.
9. Q: Has “The Monkey’s Paw” been adapted into other media? A: Yes, the story has been adapted numerous times for radio, television, film, and theater.
10. Q: What genre is “The Monkey’s Paw”? A: “The Monkey’s Paw” is primarily classified as a horror or supernatural fiction story.