Monkey-Paw Assignment
“The Monkey’s Paw” is a short parable that details the ramifications of desire, greed,
and the interference with fate. In “The Monkey’s Paw”, William Wymark Jacobs uses
imagery and symbolism to convey his message that fate rules people’s lives and those who
try to interfere with it through desire and greed does so at their own peril (Koger). The first
use of imagery that the author conveys is the wet, cold night in the first sentence of the tale.
The author’s purpose for this was to set a dark tone for the story. Next, is the first symbol
that Jacobs uses which is the monkey paw that is presented at the beginning of the short
story by Sergeant-Major Morris in order to symbolize greed and desire. The monkey paw
was a charmed trinket spelled by a holy man to illustrate to people that you couldn’t alter
your fate, and if you dared you would suffer grave consequences (Jacobs, Section 6); it had
the power to grant the wish of any man, regardless of how lofty their aims, but for a price. In
the short story, Mr. White, carelessly disregarding the Major’s warning to burn the paw,
insisted to use it anyway, which sets into motion what’s to come. Mr. White proceeds to
wish for two-hundred pounds. As the monkey paw rattles in Mr. White’s hand, startling him,
his wife makes light of his wish. Later that evening, Mr. White decides to gaze at a dying fire
that depicts faces, but the last he sees is a horrible, simian face; this malevolent imagery of
an ape foreshadows the wickedness to come, because of his wish. Still assuming that the
monkey paw’s tale was just a hoax, Mrs. White welcomes a mysterious man into her home,
whom delivers grave news. The mysterious stranger begins by announcing the consequence
of the Whites’ first wish by telling them that their son, Herbert, has been involved in a fatal
accident. The mysterious man then informs the Whites that the company denies
responsibility for the accident, but is anxious to present them with a compensation for their
loss, the two-hundred pounds that Mr. White previously wished for (Koger, 2004, pg. 2).
While mourning the death of her son, Mrs. White unheedingly encourages Mr. White to
make another wish in order to bring their son back to life. This is the beginning of the second
use of imagery by Jacobs. The second use of imagery in “The Monkey’s Paw” is the candle
that pulsates shadows on the ceilings and walls of the bedroom until it abruptly expires
(Jacobs, 1902, Short Story pg. 11). Jacobs implemented this in order to indicate to the
readers that a consequence was imminent. To the couple’s surprise, a knock begins at the
door, and Mrs. White frantically rushes downstairs. To Mr. White’s dismay he hurriedly
rushes to find the paw to claim his final wish, because he is afraid of what’s to come. This
falling action propels the readers to the last piece of imagery that Jacobs conveys. The last
device of imagery that Jacobs uses is the quiet, deserted rode that appears outside of the
White’s residence after their final wish in order to incite mystery, and also the fear of the
unknown, for which was to come.