“The Monkey’s Paw” written by W. W. Jacobs, informs readers of the dangers wish making can have on people who do not think of the overall consequences to their wishing using symbolism, a dark tone, and historical context. Using the classic “make three wishes” tale, Jacobs warns readers of realizing they may get exactly what they wished for, in a way they didn’t dream possible. The monkey’s paw that Major Morris introduces to the family in this story holds a metaphor to life. “It appears as if it is a gift, but it really is not a gift” as noted by teachers studying how effective their curriculum reform tends to be on student’s education, according to Craig (2001).
Symbolism is included throughout this story in a couple different ways. The paw represents feelings within this story’s context. Jacobs uses the paw to illustrate guilt, anger, and anxiety in the characters. The characters wish upon the monkey paw, not believing the hype that Major Morris warns them of. They fall into feeling guilty for making the wish, anxious to see what happens next, and angry that things turned out the way they did. Jacobs uses the well-known tale of three wishes in this story to show how wishes can gets granted but in undreamed of ways, then the second wish that is made in an attempt to change the fate of the first wish but only makes things worse, and then the third wish to undo the second wish. The chess game at the beginning of the story also has a meaning that explains the characters personalities. Mr. White made a careless move on the chess board, symbolizing his carelessness in his life. Herbert on the other hand, was attentive and watchful during the chess game, showing his attentiveness in life.
The story also involves the number three quite often and in a way that symbolizes the number’s importance. First, the story is written in three parts, over three time periods of the day, and through three different types of weather. Then, throughout the story, the number three is made evident as well. Major Morris tells the family of the “three wishes” they can wish upon the monkey paw, but also warns them three times not to make a wish. There are 3 family members in the White family. The people from Maw and Meggins attempt to walk to the home three times before finally doing it. When news of Herbert’s death is given to Mrs. White, she begs Mr. White three times to wish another wish for Herbert’s death to be reversed. When Herbert does come alive, also playing into the horror aspect of the story, he knocks on the White’s front door three times.
The author W. W. Jacobs wrote this story with a dark, creepy tone. He describes the setting as a night with storms and rainfall. The characters are sitting by a fireplace in a home, but still there is an eerie tone. Jacobs keeps the tone going as he brings in Major Morris who talks about the monkey’s paw. The way the story is described as being told, readers feel as if they are reading a horror story. The house is then further described in phrases like “creaking stairs,” “strange shadows,” and “banging doors.” Jacobs leaves readers wondering what is going to happen next in this eerie story. Jacobs portrays Major Morris as a trusted friend who gives Herbert and Mr. White options of granting wishes with a magical, paranormal wonder to it. Major Morris warns the family of wishing for certain things, because they may not like the way the wish is granted. He explained to them that he only wished one wish and left the air hanging on how it turned out for him. Jacobs continues the story with a granted wish, resulting in a mysterious death. Jacobs leaves it to readers to determine if the wish is what caused the death, but he writes the story in this way to show that Herbert’s incredulous and mocking attitude towards the power of the monkey’s paw and the three wishes can have unintended consequences.
Historical content is also involved in this story. Jacobs wrote this in the early 1900’s when the industrial revolution had just begun. Herbert worked at the factory owned by ‘Maw and Meggins,’ but does not explain much else about this factory. The story does not indicate whether Herbert died because of the wish, however, that is what is implied. However, due to the historical context, factories at this time had dangerous working conditions. According to one source, workers in this time frame worked long hours for very little pay. The sanitation of the land was poor to say the least. Younger people were wanted in factories due to more limber movements and ability to work longer (Labor, 1990). In the story, people from Maw and Meggins comes to the home to inform the White’s about Herbert’s death at the workplace. In this time period, deaths in workplace were not uncommon due to the poor working conditions (Labor, 1990).
Jacobs enlightens readers through this story by adding a moral, or reasoning to it; a practical wisdom used to contribute to moral insight (Engberg-Pedersen, 1983). He uses the monkey paw and the three wishes, along with Herbert’s coincidental death to share with readers that the grants of our wishes may not be what exactly we wish for. It symbolizes for readers that we need to be careful in life, to not take things for granted when we are already blessed. For if we do take things for granted and wish for more, it may have unintentional consequences and we may regret we ever said anything. However, this happens far more frequently than human kind would like to admit, and we have yet to learn from the practical wisdom given to us a century ago.
