The Monkeys Paw

Everything is normal until a man that goes by the name Sergeant Morris comes to visit the Whites. He tells the family about something called The Monkey's Paw. He stated, “It's just a bit of what you might call magic.” (Pg.34) Family listens as Sergeant Morris continues to tell them more about the monkey's paw. He went on to tell them that there is a spell on it and that it is able to grant 3 men 3 wishes. W.W Jacobs adds a mysterious tone to the story because where did this item come from and why does it have the ability to grant wishes.

In order to successfully compare and contrast the ending of the short story “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W Jacobs and the ending of Ricky Lewis Jr.’s film adaptation, one must meaningfully think about all of the differences and similarities in both version. In both medias Herbert, who is son of Mr. and Mrs. White gets sent back into his grave. In the film all the characters die, while in the story Herbert is the only character that dies.

Herbert convinces him to wish for 200 pounds, so he did just that. The next morning, however, the money was not seen in the house. Well, I don t see the money, and I bet I never shall. (Jacobs 36) Herbert remarked.

Monkeyman ends up bringing his grandfather and godmother. At the end of the story, the narrator learns that even though the monkeyman was small at the time, we were a bigger person for standing up to the Tigros. My theme for the story is, “It takes courage to do the right thing, regardless of the situation.” It fits the story because when Monkeyman is telling the Tigros, “How about tomorrow night, Eleven O’Clock in Jackie Robinson Memorial Park?” Monkeyman said,”Bet!”

Although regretting wishing another wish, Mr. White wishes Herbert, his son, to be alive again. Unfortunately, Mr. White realizes that Herbert will return in his mutilated form, so he quickly wishes for Herbert to return to the grave before his wife is traumatized. As Mr. White and his wife look out at an empty street, awaiting Herbert’s arrival, they are heartbroken knowing that they will probably never see Herbert again. Unlike Mr. White’s first wish, Mr. Peters wishes for a wife as beautiful as the forest. However, Mr. Peters apprehends that Leita, his wife, will never be satisfied being a human, because she longs to be with her swan sister. So, for his second wish, he wishes her back to swan form. Now, without Leita Mr. Peters, as well as Mr. White, is heartbroken and a lonely man, once again. Now, understanding that wishes only lead to misfortune, he decides not to use the third wish.

The day after they conversed about the paw, Herbert and his mother teased his father about making a wish about money and that they would have to disown him for his greed. Herbert jokingly urged his father to make a wish for £200, to pay off the mortgage of their house. The mother and son continued and insinuated as she followed Herbert to the door, as he went to work. As the story unveiled, the mortgage is paid off with the granted wish of £200. Much to Mrs. White’s chagrin, her son had died due to him being caught in the machinery at work. Her son’s death yielded them the £200 that they had originally wished for.

Do you think that a wish can make you lose someone you love dearly? In the “Monkey’s Paw” by W.W Jacobs a family is torn apart when a cursed paw is given to Mr. White is the most responsible for Herbert’s death, will be seen through several examples from the text.

The irony of this is the man then gives the family 200 pounds as a compensation for their son’s death. Irony continues throughout the story when the mother than wishes for Herbert to come back to life.

White were sitting at home as their son Herbert is at his job. But then their day turns into tension as a mysterious man dressed in nice clothing visits them while their son is away. He goes on to tell them that Herbert has been in a terrible accident but he is not in any pain. The mother thought he was okay until she later realized that the man was telling her that Herbert had been killed by the machinery he was working with at his job. The company Herbert was working for gave his family some money in his honor...two hundred pounds.

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.

Mr. White quick off his feet rescues it. Sergeant Morris demands he leaves the paw alone multiple times. Mr. White does not listen to Sergeant Morris. After, Sergeant Morris explains how to make a wish but highly discourages it. Sergeant Morris leaves and tells him the person before him who had this paw was that his last wish was for death. After Sergeant Morris leaves Herbert, Mr. White's son, says he is full of nonsense. Herbert says a thousand dollars would be nice in order to pay off the house. So, Mr. White makes the wish for a thousand dollars. Nothing happens for a while. Herbert leaves that night to go work in the factory and says he should be home for breakfast. The next morning Mr. and Ms. White notice Herbert is 20 minutes late. They keep looking out the window for him, but then they spot a woman in nice clothes walking around outside. Later she finally approached the house. She tells Mr. and Ms. White that their son died last night in the factory. Regret is seen vividly when Mr. and Ms. White receives this news. She hands them a suitcase with a thousand dollars in it and says this is for your lose. Mr. and Ms. White griefs until Ms. White comes up with a great idea. Mr. White runs and grabs the paw and wishes for their Hebert back. They look at the window and sees something arise from the graveyard. Ms. White is unable to open the door in time. Mr. White runs painfully and grabs the paw and wishes for his son to be dead in peace. This story was very

Mr. White took the paw out of the fire when Sergeant Major Morris threw it in the fire. Morris told him, “Better let it burn.” Mr. White insisted on keeping the monkey’s paw. Morris explained all the possible things that could go wrong. He tried telling Mr. White that the paw would literally give him what he asked for, even if it is not what he wanted. Even though he took the paw, he also made the wishes.

In “The Monkey’s Paw,” the paw symbolizes temptation and greed which is a flaw in all human beings. It has the power to fulfill 3 wishes to 3 owners, making the use of it tempting to the person who owns it. As an instance, in the beginning of the story, Mr. White is very eager to have the paw when sergeant Morris takes it out; it is in human nature to continuously desire more that the possessions that one already owns which is caused by temptation and greed (the paw). The paw is also symbolically related to the snake in Adam and Eve as it leads Adam and Eve to destruction by using temptation to make them greedy. The message that is conveyed through the paw is that temptation to change one’s fate will end badly, no matter how small the wish might be (in the end the White family loses its only son).

Next, I will be contrasting the differences between the way the characters use their wishes. I think Mr. White uses his wishes in a curious kind of way because he isn’t really sure whether The Monkey's Paw is real or fake. First Mr. White wishes for 200 pounds, and isn’t taking the paw seriously, so consequences are his son dies in a machinery

Maw and Meggins, the factory Herbert worked at, took all responsibility for Herbert's death, and as condolence gave the White family 200 pounds. The White's first wish came true, but the wish had consequences. In the 'Resolution' section of my plot graph, I stated that "Mr. White makes his third wish for Herbert to rest