“Be careful what you wish for, you may receive it” is not only an age old phrase, but also the main idea of W.W. Jacobs’ short story, “The Monkey’s Paw”. In this short story, a fairly average family is introduced to a ‘magical’ monkey paw that has the power to grant any 3 wishes. However, when the family is warned that there are horrible consequences to wishing on the paw, they decide to use it anyways and it costs them. The story is filled with many symbols such as the way Mr.White plays the chess game, the number 3, and the monkey’s paw. It is through these symbols that W.W. Jacobs sets up the problem, raises the stakes, and introduces a main character.
Jacobs uses the symbolism of the number three to raise the stakes. The number three symbolises power. Three is a …show more content…
The number three is present in a triangle, one of the most mathematically strong figures. However, without three sides, the triangle would collapse much like the Whites did when they lost their son. The family is fairly close when they are together, but once Herbert died the family becomes incredibly weak. It is described that Herbert’s death was “too heavy for [their] old hearts to bear”(5). Mrs. White will do anything to bring her son back including using the monkey’s paw which has already hurt the family. An additional way that Jacobs uses the symbol of the number three to raise the stakes is when Mrs.White orders her husband to wish on the paw three times. She first starts out by calmly ordering her husband to “go get it [the paw] and wish”(6). When this doesn’t work, she orders him again be saying “ ‘WISH’... in a strong voice”, but this only makes him say that “it is foolish and wicked” to wish on the paw. She repeats herself one more time and he finally gives in. This shows that 3 is powerful and raises the stakes because they have now used
Jacobs uses the symbolism of the number three to raise the stakes. The number three symbolises power. Three is a …show more content…
The number three is present in a triangle, one of the most mathematically strong figures. However, without three sides, the triangle would collapse much like the Whites did when they lost their son. The family is fairly close when they are together, but once Herbert died the family becomes incredibly weak. It is described that Herbert’s death was “too heavy for [their] old hearts to bear”(5). Mrs. White will do anything to bring her son back including using the monkey’s paw which has already hurt the family. An additional way that Jacobs uses the symbol of the number three to raise the stakes is when Mrs.White orders her husband to wish on the paw three times. She first starts out by calmly ordering her husband to “go get it [the paw] and wish”(6). When this doesn’t work, she orders him again be saying “ ‘WISH’... in a strong voice”, but this only makes him say that “it is foolish and wicked” to wish on the paw. She repeats herself one more time and he finally gives in. This shows that 3 is powerful and raises the stakes because they have now used