Foreshadowing in ‘The Monkey’s Paw’: Consequences of Greed and Fate

Foreshadowing and Suspense: The Ominous Warning of the Sergeant Major

Everyone wishes that they were royalty and that they could have everything that they ever wanted handed to them on a silver platter, but sometimes having it all will not lead to one’s happiness.“The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs tells a tale of a magical monkey’s paw that grants wishes to whoever finds it, and how a small family meets a horrific fate when the paw falls into their possession.

In “The Monkey’s Paw,” foreshadowing and mood are used to develop the idea that those who tamper with fate will have to face the sorrow and misfortune of their consequences.

In the story “The Monkey’s Paw,” foreshadowing is used to create suspense about what is to happen to the characters in the story. When Sergeant Major Morris begins to tell the family the story behind the magical artifact, they are very intrigued and interested, but all of a sudden, Morris throws the paw into the fire. Stunned, Mr. White quickly grabs the paw out of the flames, but the sergeant warns him to leave it: “‘Better let it burn… if you keep it, don’t blame me for what happens… I warn you of the consequences’” (Jacobs 3). When the major warns him not to use the paw, the Whites are curious because how could a wish-granting paw be bad? Most wishes that are granted bring happiness. This is important because it leads the reader to question what might happen to someone who wishes on the paw.

The Monkey's Paw Foreshadowing: Hints of Unsettling Events

The reader is now questioning what the monkey’s paw might do to someone’s fate because of Jacobs’ hints about the future of the story. Also, the morning after the Whites have made their first wish, they begin to speculate on what might come of their wish, and Mr. Whites explains how “‘[Sergeant Major] Morris said the things happen so naturally… that you might attribute them to coincidence’” (Jacobs 5). This creates suspense because the reader is now on edge, waiting for the wish to come true. They are left to wonder whether or not the wish will have a positive or negative effect. With the reader questioning what the wish will become, W.W. Jacobs has gotten the reader to think of how messing with fate could lead to unhappiness and misfortune. W.W. Jacobs uses foreshadowing throughout the story to hint to the readers about the future and to show how searching for everything can lead to having nothing.

Also, throughout the story “The Monkey’s Paw” written by W.W. Jacobs, the mood is used to develop the story and to help develop the idea that having everything will not lead to happiness. For example, mood is a key element in creating the setting of the story. When the tale begins, the narrator describes how “the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlor of the Lakesnam Villa, the blinds were drawn, and the fire burned brightly. Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils” (Jacobs 1). When the story opens, the night is dark and dreary, creating an uneasy feeling for the reader. When the narrator describes the risky way that the father is playing chess, it also helps to create an unsettling mood. This is important because by making the reader feel uneasy and unsettled, Jacobs is able to show that bad things are to come.

Exploring Consequences: The Use of Foreshadowing and Mood in 'The Monkey's Paw' to Illustrate the Dangers of Greed and Tampering with Fate

By giving the reader a disturbed feeling and getting them to predict the worst, W.W. Jacobs is able to help the reader see that when the Whites are to begin wishing, there shall be terrible consequences. In the same way, the mood is used to help develop the theme of the story later in the tale when Mr. and Mrs. White wish for their son to be alive again. While the Whites are waiting for their third wish to come true, there is a silence in the house: “Neither spoke, but both lay silently listening to the ticking of the clock. A stair creaked, and a squeaky mouse scurried noisily through the wall. The darkness was oppressive” (Jacobs 9). The silence in the house causes the reader to feel uneasy. With every passing minute, the reader becomes more and more troubled because they are left to wonder whether the White’s wish to bring their son back to life will come with disastrous consequences. By using mood throughout the story, W.W. Jacobs is able to develop the idea that when people wish for more than they already have, then there can be terrible consequences.

In “The Monkey’s Paw,” foreshadowing and mood help to develop the theme that those who tamper with fate will pay the price. When the Whites continued to wish for more than they already had, they had to pay the consequences for their actions. By using the Whites as an example, W.W. Jacobs relates the idea to the reader that you need to be grateful for what you have, even if it is very little; material objects are not worth as much as the love and support of those around you.

References:

1. Jacobs, W.W. (1902). The Monkey's Paw. Harper & Brothers.

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