2.04 Assignment: Short Literary Analysis for "The Monkey's
Paw": Rough Draft
The Whites are held accountable for what happened to them in the story
"The Monkey's Paw." Considering that Sgt. Maj. Morris in the story wanted to
burned the monkey's paw in the first place because of its curse. The Whites
snatched it from the flames because they wanted the three wishes. People
have always expressed wishes by blowing out candles on a cake or by
glimpsing a shooting champion. Nobody expects these wishes to come
true or change their life.
The story opens in a medieval setting with the words "the night was cold
and damp," setting the tone for a gloomy story right away. In their
comfortable home, Herbert and Mr. White are involved in a game of chess.
Chess is symbolic, of “life”. as well as those who take unnecessary risks in
life will die, for example, will lose. Mr. White wished for 200 pounds and it
took a day, but he got it and it cost his son's life. The family was devastated
but they still have two more wishes.
A week after the funeral, Mrs. White, furious with loss, asks her husband to
wish Herbert back to life using the paw. He wishes for his sons to come
back while feeling quite uneasy about it. A knock on the door occurs
around an hour later. Mr. White is horrified and worries that the thing
outside may not be the son he loved while Mrs. White tries desperately to
open the door. His third and final wish is granted. When Mrs. White opens
the door when the knocking ceases, nobody is there.