Mr. White Was Responsible For The Monkey's Paw

W. W. Jacobs wrote the short story “The Monkey’s Paw” in 1902. A great number of adaptations of the story have since been created using different forms of media. The two which are being compared here are the play adaptation The Monkey’s Paw dramatized by Mara Rockliff and the 2011 film version The Monkey’s Paw by Ricky Lewis Jr. Both the play and film feature the White family receiving a monkey’s paw by which three wishes may be granted. The paw had a spell put on it by a holy man who wanted to show that fate rules people’s lives and that if people try to interfere, they will be sorry. The main differences between the play and the film are that film gives more background information about how and why the paw was obtained, uses more

The night is crisp and black as the moon lets off an eerie glow, leaves rustle and fall somewhere in the distance. A silhouette dwarfs the blackberry bush in the corner as one’s footsteps refrain, they move closer; you run. Suspense is a state of tension and anxiety which was used in the sentence above and is common in books and short stories. In the short story “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W Jacobs suspense is created in a variety of ways. Jacobs demonstrates this by using foreshadowing, conflict and surprise endings.

The W.W. Jacobs version, and the Simpson’s version of The Monkey’s Paw were both similar and different. For example, one difference is, in The Monkey’s Paw story by W.W. Jacobs, the wishes made all had bad outcomes. Specifically, In the W.W. Jacobs version, a man comes to their house and tells them Herbert died and they would be given, “[t]wo hundred pounds...” (Jacobs 174). This evidence proves, how the White family wished for two hundred pounds, then the received the two hundred pounds, at the cost of their son’s life. On the other hand, in The Simpson’s version, they became rich and famous from their wish. Overall, In the W.W. Jacobs version of The Monkey’s paw, the wishes all had very bad outcomes; but the Simpson’s version had fairly good

W.W. Jacobs creates suspense using a mysterious monkey’s paw. Ricky Lewis Jr. attempted to create similar suspense using different techniques. As told in the story in the book,”He took the paw, and dangling it between his forefinger and thumb, suddenly threw it upon the fire. White, with a slight cry, stooped down and snatched it off. ”Better let it burn,” said the soldier solemnly. “If you don’t want it, Morris,” said the other, “give it to me.”.”I won’t said his friend doggedly.”I threw it on the fire. If you keep it, don’t blame me for what if happens. Pitch it on the fire like a sensible man.”(Jacobs,108) Therefore, W.W. Jacobs fundamentally builds suspense with the dialogue between Morris, who owned the paw initially, and Mr. White, who was interested and curious on what the paw had to offer.

Every year movies come into theaters that are based on popular books and stories. In these movie blockbusters, the general ideas are the same as in the written stories, but the details may contrast from the original plot in the text. In the short story, “The Monkey’s Paw” written by W. W. Jacobs, circles around the idea that this paw of monkeys' holds a special capability to grant three wishes to the person who receives the paw. Coming from India, Sergeant-Major Morris visits the White family and brings the intriguing paw with him. Explaining its purpose and use to them, they are all very fascinated with the idea of what potential power it holds within. Disregarding the warning Sergeant-Major Morris supplied, Mr. White wishes for 200 pounds in the short story, and 300 pounds in the cinematic production.. The consequences would soon become known and affect the White’s stable lives forever. Two other wishes are made to try to reverse the repercussions of the first wish, leaving the White family in despair. When comparing two tellings of the same story there may be many similarities and differences that emerge, providing distinct examples of what is relatively the same and what is definitely not.

Have you ever wondered if wishes could be granted? If you have, you probably thought of everything you could get with them. Being rich, unlimited wishes, fame etc. Well in “The Monkey’s Paw,” written by W.W Jacobs, you wouldn’t want to make a wish. This story takes place in England. In this story, a family named the whites has a chance to increase their fortunes with an magical object, a monkey’s paw. This magical paw from India has the power to grant three wishes from three separate men, the downside of this paw was that the wisher would have to pay the price. The simpson’s give the same message in their parody, but in a way different way. In the parody, it imitates “The Monkey’s Paw,” in a dramatic way. The parody takes place on a halloween night, but in a dream. Homer finds a magical monkey’s paw at a shop that has the power to grant four wishes. As you can already see, even though the parody gives the same message, it has it’s own differences to the original story as well. These two versions share both differences and similarities.

The narrator is then told that his gift is a “badge of office.” To him, this makes the gift appear as something very official and honorable, as though it is a badge of his recognition, stating that he “felt an importance that [he] had never dreamed.” The irony here is that this “badge of office” exists as nothing more than another tactic of the whites to emphasize the power that they hold over the narrator: the narrator's “office” is that of the obedient black man, his boss a white man.

I remember when my family got a phone call saying that my first cousin had just died. The whole family was devastated when we all got together. By using the paw Mr. White family was devastated as well. I am sure his family wish Mr. White didn’t have the “Monkey’s Paw.” My family can relate because we all wished he would of went home instead of going to Jackson.

The beginning of the story takes place in the living room of the White family’s home where they sat around the fire while Elizabeth White knitted and the father and son enjoyed a game of chess. This was a clear indication that this story took place in an earlier time where families did not have the entertainment resources of modern time. W.W. Jacobs did a great job of presenting the experience of life within that time period as he emphasized traditional family life within the story from the hospitality shown to the family’s guest and throughout the story. Upon the arrival, it was clear that the night was cold and windy as the family waited listening to the sounds of the rumbling winds. Finally, sergeant major Morris came in and was greeted by ways of a seat and a glass of whiskey. As the White family begin to question the sergeant major and his adventurous journey through India, the story goes from the living room setting into his mind as he begin to reminisce. As he began to explain and get on the subject of the Monkey Paw, he starts to tell how he encountered it and Jacobs does a great job of creating the picture within the mind of the reader indicating the horrific event that took place. By this point the reader should be with the impression that, no good should come of the Monkey Paw and this is what helps to create the well thought out plot of the

The old fakir was talking so fast that Samuel couldn’t understand him. It took a while, but Samuel finally got the old man to talk slower. The old man explained to Samuel that fakir’s swore to renounce all possessions and he needed to give away a monkey’s paw he had. Samuel told the man, “I am poor, but what need do I have for a monkey’s paw?” The old man explained that the monkey’s paw had a spell on it. This fact got Samuel interested. The old man said, “If you hold the paw in your right hand say you wish, it will be granted. It will look as if your wish happened only on coincidence.” He also explained that it will grant three wishes for three different men. The fakir begged Samuel to take it, and Samuel did. He left the fakir where he was, and set off for the tavern again.

Murder. Blood. A suspecting officer. A paranoid criminal. These are all ingredients that bring intrigue and suspense to short stories. One short story writer who uses these elements is the famous Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson once said that “Life is a perpetual instruction in cause and effect” (“Life Is a Perpetual Instruction in Cause and Effect.). Short story writers are skillful creators of suspense through their use of characterization, plot, and tension. This cadre of writers includes Edgar Allen Poe and WW Jacobs. The “Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe and “The Monkey’s Paw” by W. W. Jacobs are two short stories in which the authors demonstrate how cause-and-effect relationships build suspense for the reader.

A man lost all of his money in all of his investments after winning the lottery. That’s the one coincidence people don’t expect because they believe once you gain wealth you can not lose it. The man decided that he had a chance in earning even more money so he took it and lost. Greed is an unnecessary risk to earn more than one could possibly need. All throughout history, people have taken chances with greed such as using cursed artifacts such as Mr. White and the monkey’s paw in the story,”The Monkey’s Paw,” working as hard as possible to get promotions for their jobs such as Tom Benecke in the short story, “The Contents of the Dead Man’s Pockets,” and taking risky chances to get land such as Pahóm in the short story, “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” Greed caused people to lose what they loved most.

     Another similarity portrayed between Monkey’s world and human civilization are the values and the customs they hold. Chinese moral values are deeply incorporated into the world of Monkey. One lesson represented is the loyalty to one’s family which is a very important part of Chinese culture. The vengeance of a father by his son is twice seen with Tripitaka and King Crow-cock. The audience can relate much better and understand the circumstances, because the same values hold true in human’s life. The author intentionally makes the setting parallel to the ordinary life of humans even though it seems like Monkey’s world is extraordinary.

Mr. White, the most reckless of the White family, is given the chance to wish for anything with the monkey’s paw. From the beginning of the story, Mr White’s approach to chess provides insight to his personal approach to life as he places “his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils”, foreshadowing his future high risk decisions. After his close friend gives him the paw and warns him of the negative consequences, he states, “ ‘ I don’t know what to wish for, and that’s a fact… it seems to me I’ve got all I want.’ “ Shortly after this statement, Mr. White wishes for two hundred pounds. Nevertheless If Mr. White were to stay true to his initial inference of contentment and gratefulness, he would not have wished for

It was cold and wet night, Mr. White and Herbert were playing a round of chess when a knock was heard from the door. Sgt. Major Morris arrives and gives a quick introduction of himself. Mr. White questions the visitor of something he mentioned before he arrived, the Monkey's Paw. Sgt. Major Morris brushes the idea off to the side but Mrs White curiously asks about it. He explains it as “something you would call magic,” as you get three wishes from the paw. Sgt. Major Morris talks about the first man who obtained the monkey's paw, how he doesn't know what the first to wishes were, but he knows the final wish was for death. That's how Sgt. Major Morris got the paw in the first place. Sgt. Major Morris carries the paw around with thought of