The Monkey’s Paw is a short story by W.W. Jacobs that was first published in 1902. It tells the story of the White family, who are granted three wishes by a monkey’s paw that has magical powers.
While there is no clear protagonist in the story, it could be argued that Mr. White is the main character. He is the one who makes the wishes, and he is also the one who suffers the most tragic consequences as a result of them.
Mrs. White and their son Herbert also play significant roles in the story, but neither of them are as central to the plot as Mr. White is. Therefore, it could be said that Mr. White is the closest thing to a protagonist that the story has.
Out of all the horror short stories I have read, “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W Jacobs creates the best suspenseful atmosphere/mood. Through analyzing setting, narrative, dialogue and character, I plan to deepen my understanding of how W.W Jacobs was able to create such a suspenseful atmosphere/mood.
The Monkey’s Paw is set in ‘Whitehaven’ this creates a suspenseful atmosphere as it suggests that the town is cut off from the rest of the world and is quite remote. W.W Jacobs also uses lots of harsh sounding words such as ‘bleak’, ‘dreary’ and ‘lonely’ which all help to create an air of suspense and unease. The weather also plays a big part in setting the scene as it is always dark and stormy which makes the reader feel as if something bad is going to happen.
The narrative of The Monkey’s Paw is very well written and helps to create a suspenseful atmosphere by building up the tension bit by bit. W.W Jacobs starts the story off slowly and then as it goes on he introduces more and more elements of suspense such as the Monkey’s Paw itself and the three wishes. The way the story is written also helps to create a sense of suspense as it is told from different points of view, which keeps the reader guessing about what is going to happen next.
The dialogue in The Monkey’s Paw is also very effective in creating a suspenseful atmosphere. W.W Jacobs uses short, sharp sentences which gives the impression that something bad is about to happen. He also uses a lot of repetition which helps to create a sense of unease and makes the reader feel as if they are in danger.
The characters in The Monkey’s Paw are also very important in creating a suspenseful atmosphere. W.W Jacobs uses the character of Mr White to represent the average man who is not used to having things go his way. This makes the reader empathise with him and feel as if they are in the same situation as him. He also uses the character of Sergeant-Major Morris to create a sense of foreboding as he is constantly talking about death and how dangerous the Monkey’s Paw is.
The Whites, a little but close family, are the focus of “The Monkey’s Paw.” Sergeant-Major-Morris, a friend of Mr. White’s, arrives with the monkey’s paw in hand. Sergeant-Major Morris describes how the owner of this magical monkey’s paw is given three wishes. Mr. White greedily desires for two hundred pounds despite warnings from Sergeant-Major Morris.
The next day, their son Herbert dies in a workplace accident. Mr. White then frantically wishes for Herbert to be alive again but is only granted a twisted version of his former self. The story concludes with the Monkey’s Paw finally being destroyed and the Whites left to deal with the consequences of their actions.
So, who is the protagonist in “The Monkey’s Paw”? It could be argued that it is either Mr. or Mrs. White. However, I would say that the protagonist is actually Sergeant-Major Morris. He is the one who brings the Monkey’s Paw into the story and sets off the chain of events that leads to the Whites’ tragedy. Sergeant-Major Morris tries to warn them about the dangers of using the Monkey’s Paw but they don’t listen. In the end, he is the one who destroys the Monkey’s Paw and prevents any more wishes from being granted.
Mr. White’s wish is granted, but not in the way he wanted it to be, and at a great cost. The Whites are visited by a representative from the job who pays them two hundred pounds in compensation for Mr. White’s death, which we realize is the monkey’s paw is truly magical and has cursed them.
The Monkey’s Paw is a short story written by W.W. Jacobs. The story is about a Monkey’s Paw that grants three wishes to the owner, but with a catch. The Monkey’s Paw is said to have the power to grant three wishes, but those wishes always come with a price.
In the story, the Monkey’s Paw is owned by Mr. White and his family. Mr. White makes a wish for two hundred pounds, and his wish comes true, but at the cost of his son’s life. Mr. White then makes another wish, this time for his son to be alive again. This wish also comes true, but it results in the death of Mr. White’s wife. Finally, Mr. White makes his third and final wish, this time for his son and wife to be alive again. This wish also comes true, but it results in Mr. White’s own death.
So who is the protagonist in The Monkey’s Paw? Mr. White is the protagonist of the story because he is the one who makes the wishes that drive the plot forward. Without Mr. White’s wishes, there would be no story. Even though the Monkey’s Paw brings him nothing but misery, he is still the one who controls its power.
While Mr. White may be the protagonist of The Monkey’s Paw, it is important to remember that the Monkey’s Paw is the true antagonist of the story. The Monkey’s Paw is an inanimate object that grants wishes, but it always comes with a price. The Monkey’s Paw is what causes all of the problems in Mr. White’s life, and it is ultimately responsible for his death.
