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The Consequences Of Wishes, Fate Or Fiction, The Monkey’s Paw

4 Pages 940 Words


“Be careful what you wish for you may receive it,” describes “The Monkey’s Paw” a short story written by W.W. Jacobs, in 1908. This story is based on the fairy tale idea of a person having three wishes. This story illustrates how people can become consumed by greed and how curiosity killed the cat. Or in this situation how three wishes can alter your life forever in a negative way, you don’t always get what you wish for, or at least how you expected it.
As the story unfolds we are introduced to Mr. and Mrs. White and their son Herbert. The Whites live in an ordinary run down rental house, one of two on their road. ‘“That’s the worst of living so far out,” balled Mr. White. Of all the beastly, slushy, out of the way places to live in, this is the worst,”’(1). Living so far out, the White’s got very few visitors and were very surprised by the few they did have.
Late one night, an old friend of Mr. Whites arrived. Introducing himself to Mrs. White and Herbert, as Sgt. Major Morris, a tall, large, man with piercing eyes entered the house. A whiskey drunk as he was, the Sgt. Major was content speaking of wars, strange people, and distant parts of the world, as he watched Mr. White pour glass number three. ‘“I should like to see those old temples, fakirs and jugglers, said the old man. What was that you were telling me the other day about a monkey’s paw or something, Morris?”’(2) Mr. White was anxious to hear the end of the story the Major had started in days past.
Hesitant at first, Major Morris told of the strange paw of the monkey and how it magically (as some though) granted three wishes to its holder. He then began fishing in his pocket and pulled out a dried little trophy. Offering it to the White’s, Herbert took it, looking it over. Mr. White was also curious about why the ugly dried hand was so special.
The Sgt Major explained that a holy man cast a spell upon the paw. Showing...

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