The Power of 3
In writing, the power of 3 refers to the way writers make a part of the story more important. If
something happens once, it just happens. If something happens twice, it can be coincidence.
But if something happens three times, it is a pattern, and the reader is more likely to remember
and maybe even subconsciously, give it more significance.
When you start to look for it, you’ll see example of the power of 3 everywhere. Think about The
Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Tale of the Three Brothers in Harry Potter.
Speaking of Harry Potter, there was a trio of friends who were the main characters. In A
Christmas Carol, Scrooge is visited by three spirits. Dorothy clicked here heals three time in The
Wizard of Oz and she makes three new friends on her way to see the wizard.
You’ll also see the power of 3 in phrases in everyday life, like blood, sweat and tears; bacon,
lettuce, tomato; the good, the bad, and the ugly; stop, look, and listen; up, up, and away. And
then there are times that the word three is used in a phrase: third times a charm, three’s a
crowd—and how many times have you been warned “I’m going to count to three!”
W. W. Jacobs used the Power of 3 throughout the story The Monkey’s Paw. The most
noticeable are the parts to the story--Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3—and the three wishes. Some
examples are not as noticeable, though. How many times can you find where Jacobs used the
Power of 3?
Brainstorm as many as you can, then check your answers here:.
https://www.sparknotes.com/short-stories/the-monkeys-paw/motifs/