In this essay, I will be comparing and contrasting the stories “The Monkey’s Paw” and “The Third Wish.” In “The Monkey’s Paw,” written by W. W. Jacobs, a family receives a peculiar monkey’s paw that grants them three wishes. On the other hand, in “The Third Wish,” a man rescues a swan trapped in a bush and, as a reward for his kindness, the swan offers him three wishes.
The desires expressed in both stories are quite similar as both the White family and Mr. Peters longed for a joyful existence. In “The Monkey’s Paw,” Mr. White wished for a sum of five hundred dollars in order to settle their house mortgage, thereby relieving them of any financial concerns. In “The Third Wish,” Mr. Peters wished for a spouse who possessed beauty akin to the forest, capable of mending his socks, preparing meals for him, and loving him eternally.
Both stories share a similarity in terms of their climaxes. In ‘The Monkey’s Paw’, Mr. White desperately searches for the paw he had dropped earlier before ultimately undoing his second wish. He cannot bear the sight of his deceased son with missing body parts. Similarly, in ‘The third wish’, Mr. Peters uses his second wish to transform his lonely, pale, and sick wife back into a swan, realizing her happiness is paramount.
In addition to that, another similarity between Mrs. White and Leita is that they both become unhappy after their first wish. Leita becomes unhappy because she desires to be a swan again and be reunited with her sister but is unable to do so as she is married to Mr. Peters and doesn’t want to make him unhappy. Similarly, Mrs. White becomes unhappy after the first wish is made for five hundred dollars, as their son Herbert tragically loses his life in a work accident the very next day. However, as a gesture of appreciation, their boss presents them with five hundred dollars.
One contrasting point in these stories is the theme. In ‘The third Wish’, the theme conveys that you can have a happy life without wishing for it. Conversely, in ‘The Monkey’s Paw’, the theme warns about being careful with your wishes. The first story suggests that you can remain happy without making any wishes, while the second story emphasizes the need to be prepared for any consequences that may accompany your wishes.
In summary, “The Monkey’s Paw and The Third Wish” exhibit several similarities. Both stories involve characters desiring a happy life and subsequently undoing their wishes. Additionally, in both stories, someone experiences unhappiness after making their initial wish. However, despite these commonalities, the two tales differ in terms of their themes. The narratives serve as a reminder that wishing does not guarantee a life filled with happiness. Moreover, both the character White and Leita are left unhappy after their respective first wishes; Leita particularly desires to regain her swan form.
