The Monkey's Paw Theme Essay

Aiken used foreshadowing in The Third Wish to convey a theme that being a selfish and rude person never goes well in the end. In the beginning of the short story, Mr.Peters was granted three wishes after freeing a swan from a thorn bush. The swan then turned into a little man. This was who granted Mr.Peters the wishes and he warned him that people always use the wishes for selfish endeavors, it always ended in catastrophe. Mr. Peters, already knowing he was going to be smart with his wishes claimed that, “He knew very well that the gift of three magical wishes was one which brought trouble more often than not.(...) He decided to use his first wish and keep the other two in case of emergency.” (Mr.Peters pg 56) These few sentences tell the reader that he is going to use his wishes wisley instead of using it for something impractical. He knows that wishing for something that is life-change never really ended up good in the end. It’s always worse than when it started. This is why Mr.Peters was smart with his wishes. This little example of foreshadowing is not the only one the author used. In the middle of the passage his wife that he wished for, was longing for her old life back. Mr.Peters knew she was not happy. The passage claims that one night he heard her cry, “Rhea! Rhea! I can’t understand what you say! Oh wait for me, take me with you!”(Leita pg 57) She cries to her missed sister who she can’t communicate with because she is a swan. Mr.Peters was the only one that could make her happy again. This shows foreshadowing because, the

Greed is a sin of excess that every single human being has at least a little bit of. When someone has the opportunity to get as much of something as they possibly can, they will go to great lengths to get everything out of it. In the story “The Monkey’s Paw,” by W. W. Jacobs, the White family experiences a big test of greed, and they even tamper with their fate to get it. Before the Whites even knew about the paw, they were living a normal, but decent, lifestyle that got them by day-to-day without any troubles. Once they received this one idol in their life that could grant any three wishes that they could possibly think of, their mind set was altered and their greediness to change their fate kicked into play. Jacobs uses themes of

     If one is making a wish then it must be a smart one or don't make one at all. Weeks after their son’s death Mrs. White thinks to use the monkeys paw. She suggests that her husband wish for their son to be alive again with their second wish. He raised his hand "I wish for my son alive again" (Jacobs 8). He made his son come back to life in the same way he was killed. To bring his son to life was a mistake because he does not know what he will be like when he's brought back. The first wish had a negative effect to getting the wish granted so it is only natural that the others will have some kind of consequence to them. To use the monkey's paw again to wish for Herbert to be alive after the talisman had killed him was the biggest mistake. Wishing their son back from the dead will probably result in he not being the same person that he once was. Making a reckless wish to try and make up for the mistake that had been caused by the first wish was a total and utter waste. If Mr. White had listened to the warning that was given to him he wouldn’t have had so much anguish.

White wishes for two hundred pounds, Herbert says that he doesn't see the money and he bets he never will. This was used to hint at what will happen later in the future, and it might lead the reader to question what Herbert means.

The story “The Monkey's Paw” written by William Wymark Jacobs, describes the White family, a family of three, who experience an uncompromising event revolving around fate. They learn a lesson in which fate rules people's lives and nobody should mess with fate. As illustrated, Mr.White, the father, is gifted a monkey's paw by the strange visitor Sergeant-Major Morris, which in fact grants three wishes to three men. Two men have already wished, Mr.White is then persuaded by Herbert, his son, to make a wish for money. Once made, Mr.White is frightened when he felt the decomposing paw move in his hand.

White makes a wish he thought would be innocent and would benefit the family without listening to what Sargeant-Major Morris warned him about the deadly monkey´s paw. Later after he makes the wish, he finds out the monkey´s paw indeed worked, and the thing he wished for costed the life of his beloved son. Mr. And Ms. White, terrifies of the monkey´s paw, decide not to try it ever again. But Ms. White, inconsolable with her only child´s death, decides to take a risk and wish for her son to come back to life. Later at night, someone knocks harshly on the door and Mr. White, full of terror, uses the very last wish to disappear whatever was outside the door

Imagery is used very often in “The Third Wish”. Joan Aiken frequently uses imagery in his writing piece. Imagery can describe how the man wants things he does not need and takes things others do not want. Joan Aikens shows his use with Imagery in certain ways that help prove his theme and help readers get a better understanding of the theme and purpose of his writing. One piece from the text on page (105) is, “He stooped down and kissed her goodbye, then took another leaf from his notecase, blew it out of the window, and used up his second wish. Next moment instead of Leita there was a sleeping swan lying across the bed with it’s head under it’s wing,” This piece of evidence from Aiken’s piece shows that not everybody wants what you want, and just because you want it does not mean you need it. The wife that the man was granted with, was living a miserable life while she was his wife as a human, because that time was spent doing whatever the man wanted her to do. Another piece from the text that shows imagery is, “But I miss the old life in the forest, the cool grass and the mist rising off the river at sunrise and the feel of the water sliding over my feathers as my sister and I drifted along the stream” (105). This piece of evidence shows that not everyone around the man wants exactly what he does. His unwilling wife was miserable while doing exactly what Mr. Peters asked for. The man did

Life Lessons in “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs and “The Third Wish” by Joan Aiken

The second wish Sergei used on Sveta’s son. Sveta is Sergei’s ex-girlfriend. What Sergei doesn’t know is that Sveta is now dating a Moroccon cop. The third wish he wants to save it for something special. Since the goldfish grants wishes other folktales has somebody or something that grant wishes.

For example, while “The Monkey’s Paw,”  is set mainly inside,  “The Third Wish,”  is set mainly outside. For this reason, Mr.Peters and Mr.White acquire their wishes in different ways. The monkey’s paw is enchanted by an old fakir who wanted to show fate ruled people’s lives and those who meddled with it, “did so to their sorrow.” Meanwhile, Mr.Peters obtains his wishes by saving a swan from the bushes, who just so happened to be the King of the Forest. Since Mr. Peters was a lonely man, he decided to wish for a wife as beautiful as the forest.

In the short story “The Monkey’s Paw,” W.W. Jacobs progresses the concept that fate rules people’s lives, and that those interfere with it did so to their sorrow due to the injudiciousness, naivety, and impetuousness they maintain. This theme is apparent throughout the story as a mishap impacts the White family, when Sergeant Major Morris introduces a special Monkey’s paw to them, which is claimed to grant three wishes to three separate men. The story begins with the White family playing chess and a visit from the Sergeant Major Morris sharing his past trips while in the military. During his visit he mentions a Monkey’s Paw that had a spell put on it by an old fakir.

As a matter of fact, Herbert is letting his father know that wishing for two hundred pounds will lead to wonderful opportunities for their family. Therefore, Herbert is making sure his mother and father have enough money for themselves in the future. That is to say, Herbert is looking out for his parents and wants the best for them. The next day, Mr. and Mrs. White are notified that their son was caught in the machinery. Because of this, Mr. White used his second wish to bring his son back alive, but realized he had made the wrong decision.

Epicurus once said, “He who is not satisfied with little is satisfied with nothing.” Mr. Peters, from Joan Aiken’s “The Third Wish”, learns this lesson throughout the story. In the beginning, he earns three wishes and uses one to ask for a wife. However, Mr. Peters soon realizes his wife, Leita, is becoming depressed and she misses her home. After some time, he can't bear to see her so lonely.

The theme of the story Monkey’s Paw by W.W. Jacob, is to never wish upon something you don’t understand because there will be consequences . A mummified amulet that can grant the holder any three wishes of their choice, will either lead them to happiness or heartbreak. A suburban family stumble upon the Monkey’s Paw and now face the consequences of their wishes. In the story, Sergeant-Major Morris gives the amulet and bewares the family of the consequences that come with the amulet. This proves the theme because the sergeant was already alerting the family of the consequences from the amulet.

The Monkey's Paw by W.W Jacobs is a short story that’s theme is, careful what you wish for because you just might get it. This theme means that you may not have thought through the consequences if your wish is granted. On my plot graph in the 'Climax' section, it says "Herbert dies as a result of the wish." Mr. White wished for 200 pounds as his first wish. That wish came true when Herbert died in the machinery at his work.