What if in this world there is an item that can grant anybody any three wishes? There may even be serious and dangerous consequences to every wish. The strange thing about the ability to get any three wishes that one wants is that it’s true.”The monkey’s paw” written by W.W. Jacobs uses the well known story of being granted 3 wishes but puts a twist on the story creating a horror type story. In the small parlor of Lakesnam Villa a visitor comes named Sergeant Major Morris. The Sergeant Major visits the house of Mr. and Mrs. White and their son Herbert. The sergeant pulls out the monkeys paw and talks about its magic before throwing it in the fire where Mr. white takes it out so that he could keep and use the monkey’s paw. One should work for what he wants not wish for it but if one does then be careful what you wish for.
If the wish is free then there must be a consequence because nothing is truly free. Mr. and Mrs. White are sitting there at their piano and Mr. White wishes for two hundred pounds with the monkeys paw. The next day Edward got caught in the machinery and died leaving his parents compensation money. His dry lips shaped the words, “How much?” “Two hundred pounds,” was the answer (Jacobs 7). Mr. White wished for 200 pounds and it took a day but he got it at the cost of his son’s life however. No matter how harmless the wish sounds there can be a consequence to that wish and wishing for 200 pounds seems harmless enough. Even though it does not seem like nothing bad can happen just shows that everything that is free has a flaw no matter what the wish. So even there will be a consequence in the wish just make sure that when it is wished for that it is an intelligent one.
If one is making a wish then it must be a smart one or don’t make one at all. Weeks after their sons 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 wouldnt have had so much anguish.
Being given a serious warning means that you should listen or you will regret your actions later. Sitting there talking about the monkey’s paw Mr. White asks about the talisman that he holds and he responds of how much mischief it has caused. The Sergeant Major throws the monkey’s paw into the fire and Mr. White takes it out because he wants to use it so he asks how it works. “Hold it up to you right hand and wish aloud, said the sergeant major, “but I warn you of the consequences” (Jacobs 4). Listening to the Sergeant Major would have been the best idea after he told Mr. White of the mischief that it had caused. Mr. White did not believe him and that caused him to make the three wishes
Changing your destiny can have consequences and the wishes are not to be taken lightly or they will cause trouble and mayhem among those who make the wishes. The wishes should only be used if extremely wanted or absolutely needed. Jacobs uses the monkey’s paw to symbolize someone trying to change or manipulate fate. There are many relations of humans to monkeys one being on the hand is the opposable thumb that monkeys also have so maybe that is why he chose a monkeys paw. Starting back at the beginning of the story when Mr. White and his son are playing chess, the pieces are like us in the way that they can move certain ways, but if they make a mistake or try to do something audacious, there can be consequences such as checkmate, or death, is one of those consequences. Remember that there are consequences to every wish that is made in this world whether the wish is a smart one or a foolish one.
