“Where there is no imagination, there is no horror” (Arthur Conan Doyle). In the short story “The Monkey’s Paw” by William Wymark Jacobs, our imagination certainly plays a part in our emotions while reading. The short story was about a man who uses a monkey’s paw to change his fate, sort of like a genie in a bottle. The man soon finds out that changing fate comes at a price. While “The Monkey’s Paw” is a typical horror story, it fits so well with the horror genre because of the suspense the story creates, the setting choices, and the source of horror. One way that "The Monkey’s Paw” exemplifies the horror genre was through creating suspense. When Mr. White had insisted on wishing upon the monkey’s paw even after Sergeant-Major Morris pitches
…show more content…
When the Whites are curious about the monkey’s paw, Morris explains that “‘It had a spell put on it by an old fakir,’ said the sergeant-major, ‘a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow’” (Jacobs 107). This means that those who wished upon the monkey’s paw would suffer consequences. The monkey’s paw is the source of horror in this short story because it is the reason that all of the horrific things happen. Herbert dies because of the monkey’s paw. Herbert comes back to life because of the monkey’s paw. The White’s entire lives are changed all because of this little monkey’s paw. Now, some could argue that the source of horror is the old fakir, since he created the monkey’s paw. But the paw is what is doing the horrific actions, not the old fakir. There are also many great examples from the story that show the source of horror. After Mr. White made a wish on the monkey’s paw, his “...hand grasped the monkey’s paw, and with a little shiver he wiped his hand on his coat and went up to bed” (Jacobs 110). This means that Mr. White is a little spooked by the monkey’s paw. The fact that the monkey’s paw was able to make Mr, White feel scared really identifies it as the source of horror. Something so little creates such big, scary things. This paw was even able to make Mr. White feel vulnerable when it killed Herbert. The source of horror really plays a part in identifying this story as
When the Whites are curious about the monkey’s paw, Morris explains that “‘It had a spell put on it by an old fakir,’ said the sergeant-major, ‘a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow’” (Jacobs 107). This means that those who wished upon the monkey’s paw would suffer consequences. The monkey’s paw is the source of horror in this short story because it is the reason that all of the horrific things happen. Herbert dies because of the monkey’s paw. Herbert comes back to life because of the monkey’s paw. The White’s entire lives are changed all because of this little monkey’s paw. Now, some could argue that the source of horror is the old fakir, since he created the monkey’s paw. But the paw is what is doing the horrific actions, not the old fakir. There are also many great examples from the story that show the source of horror. After Mr. White made a wish on the monkey’s paw, his “...hand grasped the monkey’s paw, and with a little shiver he wiped his hand on his coat and went up to bed” (Jacobs 110). This means that Mr. White is a little spooked by the monkey’s paw. The fact that the monkey’s paw was able to make Mr, White feel scared really identifies it as the source of horror. Something so little creates such big, scary things. This paw was even able to make Mr. White feel vulnerable when it killed Herbert. The source of horror really plays a part in identifying this story as