Discussion Topic
Analysis of responsibility and key decisions in "The Monkey's Paw"
Summary:
In "The Monkey's Paw," the characters' responsibility and key decisions revolve around their choices to use the paw despite warnings. Mr. White's decision to wish for money leads to tragic consequences, illustrating the theme of unintended consequences. The family’s collective responsibility highlights the dangers of tampering with fate and the moral implications of their desires.
Who are the protagonist and antagonist in "The Monkey's Paw"?
One could argue that Mr. White is the protagonist in W. W. Jacobs's short story "The Monkey's Paw ." Mr. White could be considered the protagonist because he is the leading character and central figure, who makes all three wishes using the magic monkey's paw, and Jacobs primarily focuses on his thoughts and emotions more than any other character in the story. After having an ominous, unnerving conversation with Sergeant-Major Morris regarding the monkey's paw, Mr. White saves the talisman from the fire and proceeds to wish for two hundred pounds to pay off his mortgage. Mr. White not only brings up the topic of the monkey's paw, but he also saves it from the fire and makes the first wish, which sets in motion the chaotic chain of events that results in his son returning from the grave. After the Whites lose their son, Mr. White is apprehensive...
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about making the second wish for Herbert to return and frantically locates the paw to make a third wish just in the nick of time. Overall, Mr. White is considered the protagonist of the short story because he is the central character and leading figure, who sets in motion the chain of events and saves his wife from witnessing their zombie-like son when she opens the door at the end of the story.
In "The Monkey's Paw", who is responsible for the consequences?
The responsibility for the events is primarily on Mr. White, but some can be attributed to his wife and son as well as to Sergeant Major Morris.
Although Morris knows that two people have had bad experiences with the paw and the wishes it granted, he passes it along. Instead of destroying it on his own, he brings it to White's house to destroy it there. For that reason the fault is partly his.
White proves unable to resist the idea of three wishes, even after hearing the major's creepy tale. He pulls it out of the fire and uses it despite the possible danger. He continues to use it after things start to go awry. Therefore, he is responsible for what happens.
Herbert suggests that his father wish for money, which he seems uncomfortable with, but does so anyway. That puts some weight on the son.
The mother begs White to wish for their son to come back to life but doesn't specify, as he was before the accident. The final horror can thus be partly laid on her.
What is the fateful decision in "The Monkey's Paw"?
"The Monkey's Paw" exemplifies the old adage, "Be careful what you ask for." The Whites take the paw from the sergeant, but they fail to heed his warnings, and Mr. White rashly makes a wish that has devastating conditions attached to it.
When Sergeant Major Morris visits the Whites on a night of foreboding as wind blows and the road is "a torrent," they sit before a warm fire with an old soldier friend who tells them of his adventures in India and of a dried monkey's paw that had a spell placed upon it by a fakir. He mentions that he was given it after a man died and, grimly, he states that he has made his three wishes. Even after he witnesses Morris's chagrin and his tossing of the paw into the fireplace, Mr. White scoops it out and asks for the paw--a fateful decision of itself.
Further, it is a dangerous act that with this paw and its supposed powers, Herbert White makes light of the paw's magic and encourages his father to wish for £ 200, an amount that will pay off the mortgage on their home. After Herbert goes to bed, Mr. White does make this wish, but his decision to do this becomes a fateful one because he is not careful in wishing; that is, he does not add any limitations or modifiers to this wish, such as from where the money will come. Tragically, the £ 200 comes from a settlement on the accidental death of Herbert.
Who bears the most responsibility in "The Monkey's Paw"?
One could make a valid argument that each character in the story is responsible in some way for the horrific outcome. Herbert is somewhat responsible because he suggested that his father wish for enough money to pay off the house, which indirectly leads to his death. Mrs. White is responsible for her son's zombie corpse returning from the grave because she begged her husband to wish him back to life. Mr. White is also responsible because he brought up the topic of the monkey's paw, rescued it from the fire, and made the wishes. If Mr. White had never saved the monkey's paw or wished upon it, his son would still be alive.
Although one could make a legitimate argument for each person's role, Sergeant-Major Morris is arguably the most responsible. Sergeant-Major Morris allows Mr. White to keep the talisman. Morris informs the Whites that the first owner of the talisman wished for death as his third wish, but this does not keep them from wishing upon it. Though Morris does throw the paw into the fire, he does not prevent Mr. White from keeping it after he snatches it from the fire. In addition, Morris might have refused to tell Mr. White about the paw even when White pressed him about it, or he could have refrained from bringing it into their house in the first place or from showing it to them.
Although it is certainly within Mr. White's rights to take the paw and use it—and this is likely how Morris sees it—the case can be made that Morris, knowing fully the power of the paw, might have done more to prevent the Whites from using it.